• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, September 17, 2025

No Crowds for Australian Open

  • The Australian Open is closing to fans due to the spread of a more contagious variant of COVID-19.
  • The Grand Slam event had previously allowed 30,000 fans to attend per day.
Alex Brooks-Front Office Sports

The Australian Open had been a sign of what life may be like post-COVID, but for now it shows that the pandemic is far from over.

The event was allowing 30,000 fans to attend each day, but will proceed without spectators after 13 positive cases of what is believed to be the more infectious United Kingdom strain of COVID-19 were identified among guests staying at a Holiday Inn in Melbourne.

The Australian state of Victoria will enter a five-day lockdown at midnight on Friday. “The UK strain is moving at a velocity that has not been seen anywhere in our country,” said Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews.

  • Victoria residents may only leave home for essential reasons, such as grocery shopping and family care. Australian Open players are considered “essential athletes,” allowing them to continue competing.
  • Should the lockdown lift as scheduled, fans will be able to attend the women’s and men’s finals matches.

Tennis Australia previously imposed a 14-day quarantine on players who had arrived to Melbourne in January on charter flights with passengers who tested positive for COVID-19.

Every Grand Slam event has been impacted by the pandemic. Wimbledon was canceled, the U.S. Open had no spectators, and the French Open only permitted 1,000 attendees per day.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

US Open Set Attendance Record, Men’s Final Ratings Surged 82%

Attendance and television viewership of the tennis major again reach historic levels.

Greg Norman Leaves LIV As Golf World Continues to Shift

Norman relinquished the league’s CEO role in January.
exclusive

Zohran Mamdani Blasts World Cup Ticket Prices: ‘FIFA Is Becoming the Scalper’

The NYC mayoral candidate wants FIFA to cap resale prices at face value.

Alcaraz and Sinner Have More to Gain in 2025 After Splitting Slams

Alcaraz and Sinner have split the last eight Grand Slams.

Featured Today

Premier Lacrosse League

‘The Circus Is Coming to Town’: Why Upstart Leagues Start on Tour

In their ambitious plans, a traveling schedule is only temporary.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
September 13, 2025

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.
Sponsored

Game the Green: Transforming Fan Experiences at TPC Sawgrass

As fans gather at THE PLAYERS Championship, Comcast Business will be keeping spectators and the PGA TOUR connected like never before.
Sponsored

How Sportradar and the NBA Are Shaping the Future of Immersive Fan..

By transforming raw data into tailored, interactive content, Sportradar helps turn the NBA’s enormous fanbase into active participants.
February 3, 2025

Super Bowl Ticket Prices Crash As Hotel Rooms See Historic Rate Hike

Prices sink by about 30%, due in part to a lodging crunch.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
October 8, 2024

NBA GMs Rank Salary-Cap Apron As Rule That Needs to Change Most

Schedule changes finished second with 17% of the vote.
Sponsored

Trend Report: Chiefs-Chargers, Tobacco Road Rivalry, Nebraska Sellout Streak

According to data from TickPick, some games this week will prove to be wallet-busters, climbing into the four figures.
September 8, 2024

US Open Breaks Attendance Record

Top-seeded Jannik Sinner beat No. 12 Taylor Fritz in straight sets Sunday.
Sponsored

Mastercard’s Foodies & Fairways: Where Golf Meets Gourmet at the TOUR Championship

This year’s TOUR Championship in Atlanta isn’t just about world-class golf—it’s also a celebration of local flavors.