Rod Laver Arena To Receive Multi-Million Dollar Makeover

One of Melbourne's premier concert venues, Rod Laver Arena, will be receiving a huge refurbishment as part of a wider $700 million Melbourne Park Redevelopment project. 

Said to "significantly enhance every aspect of the customer experience and rejuvenate the external design" of the venue, the work will kick off in February 2016 and is the first major reconstruction since it opened in 1988.

The redevelopment will focus on building a new eastern annex which will become the new public entrance to the arena, new food and beverage outlets on the floor level to cater to "a wide variety of dining options", upgraded bathroom facilities as well as a Changing Places toilet to cater to patrons with disabilities and wider disability access in general, including universal access to the arena's seating bowl.

CEO of Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Brian Morris, says, "These plans modernise Rod Laver Arena and will ensure we can continue to provide world class events in a safe and comfortable environment."

Behind the scenes, the refurbishment will create a more efficient loading bar for concerts to be set up faster, as well as an increasing rigging capacity to accommodate for promoters to bring the largest concerts in the world to the arena. 

While the work is being conducted, Rod Laver will continue to host concerts, rodeos, wrestling, boxing, swimming and the Australian Open tennis, with the work expected to complete in 2020.