View photosMargaret Court Arena Seating Map
Your seating plan and chart: where to sit, the best seats and the view from your seat
“MCA”
Margaret Court Arena in photos
2 outside · 5 inside the venue
Where to sit at Margaret Court Arena
The best seats at Margaret Court Arena are Category A lower rows near the baseline for the view. For value, choose Upper-tier Category C. For atmosphere, head to Lower and middle tier for the night session. Avoid Extreme sideline seats level with the net. Margaret Court Arena seats 7,500, home of Australian Open.
Category A lower rows near the baseline
Almost at court level, close to the players.
Full detail Best valueUpper-tier Category C
The cheapest seats with a full view of both baselines.
Full detail Best atmosphereLower and middle tier for the night session
The enclosed evening session concentrates the noise.
Full detail Where to avoidExtreme sideline seats level with the net
Foreshortened view of baseline rallies.
Full detailAbout 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.
Seating plan & map
This is the map used for ticket sales at Margaret Court Arena. Exact configuration varies by event.
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.
Food & drink at Margaret Court Arena
Margaret Court Arena sits inside Melbourne Park, where the Australian Open lays on one of the biggest food operations in tennis. The Grand Slam Oval works as a multicultural food festival with seven cuisines across seven outlets, Garden Square adds restaurant names such as Hectors' Deli, Entrecôte and Shane Delia's Layla, and bars range from The Local in The Village to the Courtside Bar overlooking Court 6. For AO 2026 Shake Shack opened its first Australian pop-up, and the AO Frappe returned at John Cain Arena.
The Australian Open is a cashless event. Fans may bring some food, but eskies, hampers, containers over 1.5 litres, and food or drink in glass, cans or ceramic are prohibited, and all alcohol must be purchased at the venue.
Worth seeking out
- Grand Slam Oval: seven cuisines, incl. Ho Jiak and Stalactites
- Shake Shack's first Australian pop-up (AO 2026)
- Courtside Bar overlooking Court 6
- Hectors' Deli sandwiches in Garden Square
- AO Frappe at John Cain Arena
Hotels near Margaret Court Arena
All hotels & live prices
4-starAdelphi Hotel
Melbourne
See live prices
5-starPullman Melbourne on the Park
Melbourne
See live prices
5-starSheraton Melbourne Hotel
Melbourne
See live pricesStays close to Margaret Court Arena, with availability checked when we built this guide. Tap a hotel for live prices on your dates.
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
Parking near Margaret Court Arena
The closest car parks to Margaret Court Arena, each marked with a blue P on the map above. On event days public transport is usually quicker than driving.
- AIA Centre Loading DockBatman Avenue, Melbourne152 m
- Eastern Plaza Car ParkEastern Plaza Car Park, Melbourne304 m
- Northern Car ParkTennis Centre Access Road, Melbourne362 m
- ParkingBoathouse Drive, Melbourne729 m
- Pullman East Melbourne - Parking178-226 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne789 m
- Gate 5 Yarra ParkEast Melbourne801 m
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.
Which seats are best for concerts at Margaret Court Arena?
Frequently hosts the later rounds of doubles and mixed doubles.
How do section numbers work at Margaret Court Arena?
Section numbers at Margaret Court Arena follow the seating tiers. Lower tier (Category A): Front lower sections and courtside; Middle rows (Category B): Mid lower-bowl rows; Upper tier (Category C): Highest sections.
Does Margaret Court Arena have a seating map with seat numbers?
Yes. Margaret Court Arena's seating map is split into numbered sections across its tiers (Lower tier (Category A) Front lower sections and courtside; Middle rows (Category B) Mid lower-bowl rows; Upper tier (Category C) Highest sections), with individual seat numbers running within each section. Check the seating map on this page or the official chart for exact seat numbers.
What is the view like from the seats at Margaret Court Arena?
The best views at Margaret Court Arena are from Seats behind either baseline — Best angle to read serve and rally depth. The weakest are Extreme sideline seats level with the net: Foreshortened view of baseline rallies. For a seat-by-seat view, see the view-from-seat photos and the seating map for Margaret Court Arena.
Where are the wheelchair-accessible seats at Margaret Court Arena?
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. Locations: Designated accessible bays in the lower tier with step-free access..
What is the view like from the seats at Margaret Court Arena?
For the best view at Margaret Court Arena, aim for 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.). The view is most restricted from Extreme sideline seats level with the net (Foreshortened view of baseline rallies.).
Where can I park at Margaret Court Arena?
Car parks near Margaret Court Arena include AIA Centre Loading Dock, Eastern Plaza Car Park, Northern Car Park, Parking and more. The closest is AIA Centre Loading Dock, about 152 m from the venue. On event days public transport is usually quicker than driving, so check the transport options too.
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Sources
Hero image: DestinationAlan, CC BY-SA 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons