Off the wire
• Cuba taps adventure tourism potential with new attractions  • Roundup: S. Korea keeps longest current account surplus for 40 months  • Unseasonal Australian bushfire branded as suspicious after threatening homes  • Australian real estate value hits new high  • Commentary: Japan's silence on U.S. spying betrays masochistic diplomacy towards Big Brother  • UN chief condemns killing of peacekeeper in CAR  • Human trafficking victims intercepted off PNG: authorities  • China treasury bond futures open mixed Monday  • Australia's "runaway groom" skips bail, abandons wife two days after getting married  • Chinese yuan strengthens to 6.1169 against USD Monday  
You are here: 　 Home

(Sports) Australian Open organizers slash women's final ticket price by 32 pct

Xinhua, August 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australian Open organizers announced on Monday they have slashed ticket prices to the 2016 women's final by 32 percent, in response to fan feedback after this year's tournament.

The decision was announced by Tennis Australia's Commercial Director Richard Heaselgrave in a statement on Monday, with the cheapest seat to see the women's final now costing 70 U.S dollars less than the 2015 equivalent.

Fans who felt they were short-changed attending the women's decider will now pay as little as 142 U.S dollars to attend the 2016 final, down from 212 U.S dollars.

Meanwhile the men's final commands the premium price of 289 U.S dollars for the cheapest seat - more than double the price of the women's championship match.

In contrast to the women's decider, the price of attending the men's final has gone up compared with last year's offering, rising 4 U.S dollars.

Fans clearly felt they weren't getting value for money attending women's finals, which last year went for just one hour and 51 minutes compared with the men's match which was three hours and 39 minutes.

Last year's women's final was one of the longer Australian Open

finals. In 2012, Victoria Azarenka won in 82 minutes, while 2014 winner Li Na won in 97 minutes - the second set wrapping up in 27 minutes.

The announcement also detailed that ground pass prices would remain the same, while the price of attending early-round matches on Rod Laver Arena (center court) will also remain unchanged.

Heaselgrave said the price restructuring would allow tennis fans the greatest choice of tickets for the 2016 tournament.

"Whether you are a die-hard tennis fan or use the biggest event on Australia's sporting calendar to entertain guests, we've opened the door for everyone to design their own unique Australian Open 2016 experience," Heaselgrave said.

"Tennis fans are a sophisticated audience and they're used to having a say in where they sit in the stadium at other major sports and entertainment events. We've listened to feedback."

The 2016 Australian Open will take place from Jan. 18 until Jan. 31. Endi