‘No Feedback Received: Australian Open Chief Stands by Ticket Sales Figures’

Craig Tiley, the director of the Australian Open, has stood by the decision to sell a significant number of ground passes for this year’s tournament, following concerns that some ticket holders were unable to access the courts for live match viewings.

Ground pass tickets, advertised on the AO website as starting from $35, allow fans entry to the general precinct and to courts that do not include Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, or the designated seating areas of John Cain Arena.

According to the website, “access to outdoor courts and unreserved seating is subject to availability and capacity limits”.

This indicates that purchasing a ground pass does not necessarily guarantee a ticket holder a courtside seat to watch premier international athletes compete.

Tiley asserted that this year’s Open witnessed “more attendees than ever before”.

However, during a segment on SEN’s Whateley on Tuesday, Tiley was queried as to whether it was concerning that some attendees may not have witnessed any live tennis.

“That’s a valid question,” Tiley responded.

“My focus has been on customer satisfaction. Our satisfaction ratings, tracked daily through customer surveys, reflected results consistent with or better than the previous year, which is encouraging.

“We’re not merely pursuing numbers; we’re prioritising the overall experience. That’s why we introduced the opening week to spread the event over three weeks. We will be examining our scheduling to ensure it aligns with school holidays, allowing everyone the opportunity to attend.

“We will keep honing the experience… being innovative in how we manage the precinct to ensure everyone has a great time while feeling comfortable, secure, and entertained.”

When asked directly if fans could feel slighted after purchasing a ticket only to be barred from watching matches, Tiley replied, “We haven’t received such feedback, though it’s likely a few may feel disappointed.”

“This year, we expanded the practice village, which was met with enthusiasm. Attendees appreciated having ample seating to watch top players practice.

“We’ve more than tripled the number of screens on-site, catering to those who enjoy sitting, dining, and watching the matches with friends.

“Going forward, we will ensure that this approach continues, as we aim to avoid any situations that could make it difficult for our fans to enjoy the games.”

Tiley, who has previously introduced innovations such as a courtside bar and on-court coaching pods, has committed to further enhancements for the 2026 tournament.