‘Always going to have one or two’: Australian Open boss says rowdy crowds not a problem
Share:
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley has rejected suggestions crowd behaviour at Melbourne Park has taken a turn for the worse, saying the number of people interrupting points and being ejected from courts is no different from previous years.
![[Australian Open courtside bar]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5714a0a65d2838b3a0ee3e9f93fecaeeec051001/0_435_6522_3913/master/6522.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The grand slam has set a string of record attendances in the past week-and-a-half as it seeks to draw a wider pool of fans to the precinct with sponsor activations and activities, including an increasing array of court-side hospitality options. Players including Novak Djokovic and Danielle Collins have linked rowdy behaviour to the level of alcohol consumed by patrons. But Tiley said that with tournament attendances totalling more than a million, there will always be some examples of poor behaviour, just as there would be in the broader community.
“Really it’s been no different in the number to what it has been in previous years, even with the larger crowd we’ve had come through the gates,” Tiley said. “You’re always going to have one or two. We’ve made it very clear anyone that comes onto the site that is going to be disruptive to the enjoyment of the people around them are not going to be welcome.”.
The tournament has consistently broken daily crowd records and its total is set to surpass the aggregate record of 1.02m set last year. “The Australian crowd, I believe they’re amongst the most educated in the world, and the ones that have the most fun at matches, and we’ve certainly seen that,” Tiley said. “There are always going to be moments [of rowdy behaviour], but the energy that it brings to the players, the event is remarkable, so for that we appreciate it.”.
.jpeg)
