Margaret Court Arena Seating Guide
Where to sit & the best seats
“MCA”
Where to sit at Margaret Court Arena
Category A lower rows near the baseline
Almost at court level, close to the players.
Upper-tier Category C
The cheapest seats with a full view of both baselines.
Lower and middle tier for the night session
The enclosed evening session concentrates the noise.
Extreme sideline seats level with the net
Foreshortened view of baseline rallies.
About Margaret Court Arena
Margaret Court Arena is the third-largest show court at the Australian Open, an intimate roughly 7,500-seat arena wrapped in two tiers around a cushioned hard court. A retractable roof added in 2015 keeps play going in rain and extreme heat and enables night matches. Seats are sold by numbered category, so the lower tier near the court is the premium and the upper tier the best value. The atmosphere is lively and close, hosting marquee singles, doubles and mixed-doubles matches through the fortnight.
The third show court at Melbourne Park, opened in 1988 as Show Court One and renamed for Margaret Court in 2003. A 2013-2015 redevelopment added a retractable roof, one of the fastest in the world at about five minutes to close, and lifted capacity to 7,500 in an intimate two-tier arena.
Margaret Court Arena in photos
2 outside · 5 inside the venue
Seating map
View the official Margaret Court Arena seating plan
We don't have a live ticketing map for Margaret Court Arenayet. The venue's official website has the current seating chart and event-specific layouts.
How the venue is set up
Day session
Daytime singles and doubles; the roof can close under the tournament's extreme-heat policy.
Night session
Featured evening matches under lights, roof often closed for a more enclosed atmosphere.
Doubles and mixed latter stages
Frequently hosts the later rounds of doubles and mixed doubles.
Seating levels explained
Lower tier (Category A)Front lower sections and courtside
The closest seats, level with the court.
Pros: Best proximity to the players.
Cons: The priciest category and hardest to get for big matches.
Middle rows (Category B)Mid lower-bowl rows
The middle band of the lower bowl.
Pros: A good balance of closeness and view.
Cons: Still premium-priced.
Upper tier (Category C)Highest sections
The top ring, farthest from the court but with a full view.
Pros: The best value, a complete court view, and covered when the roof is shut.
Cons: Distance from the play.
Best seats at Margaret Court Arena
Closest to the court
Category A lower rows near the baseline
Almost at court level, close to the players.
Best value
Upper-tier Category C
The cheapest seats with a full view of both baselines.
Baseline vs sideline
Seats behind either baseline
Best angle to read serve and rally depth.
Best for shade / roof
Upper covered rows, or any seat with the roof closed
The roof and upper cover keep the sun and heat off during the Melbourne summer.
Night-match atmosphere
Lower and middle tier for the night session
The enclosed evening session concentrates the noise.
| For | Sections | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Closest to the court | Category A lower rows near the baseline | Almost at court level, close to the players. |
| Best value | Upper-tier Category C | The cheapest seats with a full view of both baselines. |
| Baseline vs sideline | Seats behind either baseline | Best angle to read serve and rally depth. |
| Best for shade / roof | Upper covered rows, or any seat with the roof closed | The roof and upper cover keep the sun and heat off during the Melbourne summer. |
| Night-match atmosphere | Lower and middle tier for the night session | The enclosed evening session concentrates the noise. |
Seats to avoid & obstructed views
Extreme sideline seats level with the net: Foreshortened view of baseline rallies.
Highest upper rows with the roof open on a hot afternoon: Sun and distance on scorching days.
Front rows behind camera and line-judge positions: Occasional sightline interruptions.
Corner seats where the tiers meet: Angled view favouring one end.
Accessibility & companion seating
Margaret Court Arena offers wheelchair and accessible seating with companion spaces, plus accessible entrances, lifts and facilities as part of Melbourne Park. Positions are booked through Ticketek and Australian Open ticketing, and early booking is advised during the tournament.
Where: Designated accessible bays in the lower tier with step-free access.
Getting there
Transport
A short walk from Melbourne's CBD across the Yarra, with free tournament trams during the Australian Open and Richmond and Jolimont stations nearby. Parking around Melbourne Park is very limited during the event.
The area
In the Melbourne Park sporting precinct beside the Yarra River and the MCG, a 15-20 minute walk from the CBD and Federation Square.
Margaret Court Arena · Melbourne, Australia
Frequently asked questions
Does Margaret Court Arena have a roof?
Yes. A retractable roof was added in the 2015 redevelopment and is one of the fastest in the world, closing in about five minutes.
How many people does it hold?
About 7,500, making it the third-largest arena at the Australian Open behind Rod Laver Arena and John Cain Arena.
What surface is it?
A cushioned acrylic hard court, the same surface used across the Australian Open.
Where are the best value seats?
The upper tier (Category C), which is cheapest and still gives a full court view.
Why is it called Margaret Court Arena?
It was renamed in 2003 in honour of Australian great Margaret Court; it opened in 1988 as Show Court One.
Is it used for night matches?
Yes, it stages night-session matches under lights during the Australian Open.
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Hero image: DestinationAlan, CC BY-SA 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons