Get a 2012 Australian Open Membership
Currently the US Open Series is being played in the lead up to the US Open, which will run from August 29 to September 2011.
Given that men’s tennis-wise it’s all happening in the US at the moment, you’re probably wondering why I’m writing an article about the Australian Open.
Well, the Australian Open member ticket pre-sale happens in August and September, which reminded me of why I love being an AO Member and I wanted to share the reasons why.
1. Pre-Sale Access to Tickets
Members get pre-sale access to tickets. I’ve been a member for as long as I can remember and access to great tickets is one of the key reasons.
Members receive an email notification about what time tix are on sale etc and all you need to do is be online on the right day and time to get your tickets.
With a bit of planning ahead to be online at the time that tickets go on sale I’ve always been able to tickets for the sessions I wanted. For someone who used to queue up for tickets at a newsagency in a Melbourne outer suburb (where I hoped there weren’t many tennis fans), buying tix online in the pre-sale has been an incredibly positive improvement.
This year there are different pre-sale dates depending upon the type of membership you have, but it starts early August so check out the membership options now if you’re keen to get pre-sale tix.
AO Series, Fed Cup and Davis Cup pre-sale tickets are also offered as part of the membership.
2. Opportunity to enter a ballot for French Open and Wimbledon tickets
Last year I got French Open tickets via my Australian Open membership. The whole process was incredibly easy. I filled out a form indicating my preference for which sessions I wanted tickets for, returned the form and a few weeks later received an email advising what tickets I could access.
Dead easy.
Plus the tickets were bought at face value, which is a huge saving over buying them at the last minute from a ticketing agency, like I did in 2008.
3. The Member’s Lounge
Australian Open Members Lounge in 2011
It gets busy at the Australian Open. And sometime, it gets hot. Really really hot.
At any time it’s nice to have a place where you can get away from the crowds, relax a little and have a great view of live tennis on a big TV screen, but when it’s busy and hot it’s particularly nice.
For me, the Australian Open Members lounge is that place. During past summers when freaky hot conditions occurred during the Aus Open, because I lived close to Melbourne Park and didn’t have air conditioning at home, I loved enjoying the comforts of the Members Lounge while watch the night matches.
In previous years the lounge was over the road from the main venue, but in 2012 it will be moving on site.
There are other benefits too!
Other member benefits include free ground passes, a copy of the program and merchandise discounts (I adore tennis merchandise so this discount alone nearly covers the membership cost!)
A selection of 2011 AO Merchandise
Read the full Australian Open Membership information
Sounds good right? And it is. Amazingly good.
Until next time