Tennis Australia to cap grounds passes for 2027 Australian Open amid infrastructure strain
The move follows unregulated sales that led to overcrowding during matches featuring rising stars, with officials citing the need to balance popularity with precinct capacity.
Tennis Australia has announced that the 2027 Australian Open will implement a cap on the number of grounds passes available, a strategic decision driven by the logistical challenges of hosting a record-breaking event. The 2026 tournament attracted nearly 1.37 million attendees, marking the highest attendance in the event's history and placing significant pressure on the venue's infrastructure.
The decision comes after unregulated sales of grounds passes, which cost $59 AUD, led to severe congestion and long queues. On the first Thursday of the 2026 event, over 100,000 fans visited the complex, which has a fixed seating capacity of approximately 50,000. This imbalance was exacerbated on the first Sunday when sales were paused due to overcrowding, and during matches featuring emerging talents such as Alex Eala and João Fonseca, where lines stretched around field courts with limited vantage points.
Cedric Cornelis, Tennis Australia’s chief commercial officer, stated that the cap reflects the tournament's growing popularity and aims to ensure fans can enjoy all precinct offerings. The organisation has previously attempted to manage capacity by adding vertical amenities, such as balconies and courtside bars, rather than expanding the physical footprint, which is described as ranging from complex to almost impossible.
The move highlights the ongoing tension between revenue generation and fan experience across the four Grand Slam tournaments. As majors engage in an arms race for supremacy, increased ticket sales are often reinvested into infrastructure and tournament improvements. However, the Australian Open's approach to capping access may influence ticketing strategies at other major events as they navigate similar balance sheets.
Whether other Grand Slams will adopt similar measures remains unclear, as does the specific impact on the 2027 edition of the Australian Open. The main draws for the upcoming tournament are scheduled to begin on January 17, with the new policy set to redefine access to the event's public spaces.
