John Cain Arena is a large indoor stadium located within Melbourne Park. It is a multipurpose sports and entertainment Arena. It is the 6th-largest indoor stadium in Australia by seating capacity and can accommodate approximately 11000 visitors. John Cain Arena seating plan is quite useful for locating the best seats. It also helps in choosing the seats inside the stadium. It is one of the most popular venues in Australia and hosts events throughout the year.
Australian Open Tennis Tournament is hosted here each calendar year. John Cain Arena is the home ground of the Melbourne United basketball team and the South East Melbourne Phoenix basketball team, which compete in the National Basketball League in Australia. Melbourne Vixens netball team and Melbourne Mavericks netball team use this stadium for home games. It has hosted many notable events, including the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Melbourne multipurpose venue hosted netball, basketball, track cycling, and other Commonwealth Games events in 2006. It is a regular venue for hosting entertainment events and musical concerts.
The construction of the arena started in 1999, and it was completed the following year, in 2000. It was opened as Vodafone Arena after the naming rights were purchased before the opening. Melbourne Multi-Purpose Venue was the proposed name of the indoor Arena at the time of construction and planning. It was renamed briefly as Melbourne Multi-Purpose Venue during the 2006 Commonwealth Games. It was also named Hisense Arena and Melbourne Arena due to previous naming rights. It was renamed as John Cain Arena in 2020Â after the new naming agreement.
John Cain Arena is owned by the Government of Victoria and operated by Melbourne and Olympic Park Trust. It has a seating capacity for 10300 visitors and can accommodate over 11000 visitors for large concerts after the temporary arrangements on the floor.
John Cain Arena Seating Map
The seats of the stadium are spread across multiple levels to accommodate more than 10000 visitors. The location of the basketball court with fixed seats is depicted on the John Cain Arena seating map. The court is used to host basketball, netball, kabaddi, tennis, and other similar indoor sports.

The seating arrangement map of the John Cain Arena helps in locating the seats. It also helps in choosing the best seats before big events. It has premium sections for visitors with deep pockets. Suites and corporate reserves provide unmatched facilities with a good view of the event. These are among the most expensive areas with luxury services and extra comfort. John Cain Arena Suites have balcony seating.

This Stadium has a retractable roof, and the seating plan for the Australian Open is mentioned on the map.

It is a regular venue to host basketball and netball. The seating layout for netball is different from the basketball and tennis games.
Accessible seats are available inside the John Cain Arena, and pre-booking is mandatory via the official ticket booking portal Ticketek. All the required facilities such as accessible washrooms, changing rooms, wheelchair access, companion seats, est are situated nearby. It is recommended to click this official link to learn more about accessible seating and pre-booking instructions.
John Cain Arena Concert Map
The layout of the stadium is slightly different during the concerts. The floor of the John Cain Arena is generally used to set up a temporary area to accommodate the additional crowd. It can accommodate more than 11000 visitors during large concerts. It can accommodate slightly more visitors during the center stage setup. The view is good from all corners of the John Cain Arena during center-stage events.

The location of the floor seat sections with temporary arrangements is depicted on the concert seating layout. We have shared multiple maps of the John Cain Arena to help you locate seats for sports and entertainment events.
John Cain Arena Best Seats
We recommend checking the seating arrangement chart of the John Cain Arena to choose the best seats before the events. The best seats of the Indoor Stadium generally sell out quickly due to high demand. During the concerts, the sections on the floor around the performance stage are great for the view. These are among the most expensive areas, and premium sections are located on the floor. The atmosphere is great on the floor seats due to close proximity of the stage.

Similarly, the seats in the seating sections facing the performance stage are good for the view. The seats near the court are good for the view, and visitors are advised to choose the lower ball seats in the front rows. The seats in the middle are good for the view during concerts and sports. These are among the most demanded seats due to the view, and they are among the most affordable. The seats in the upper rows are popular among budget visitors, and they are far from the court. It is advisable to avoid the last rows and extreme corner seats due to obstructed views at the John Cain Arena. The seats in the black are the best, while the seats in the light brown are also good for the view. The seats in the grey are also popular with the visitors, and the brown seats are among the most affordable. The sections in the yellow are not good for the view, and they are the cheapest areas.
John Cain Arena Parking Map
It has sufficient parking bays and pre-booking is recommended to get a discounted rate. Parking is available at Eastern Plaza Car Park. John Cain Arena parking rate is $20 flat for pre-booked parking, and the drive-up parking rate is $30 Flat. Non-event day parking rate is $7.5. Accessible parking is available for visitors with disabilities, and it must be booked in advance via Ticketek while purchasing tickets. Yarra Park (MCG), Secure Parking, and Wilson Parking are the other available parking lots near the stadium if the Eastern Plaza Car Park lot is sold out. Limited on street parking is also available for most of the events along the Yarra River at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The location of the parking lot is shown on the Melbourne Park precinct map, which includes John Cain Arena. The map also shows the location of the Eastern Plaza car park and other parking lots. Visitors can also see the location of the taxi rank, accessible taxi rank, rideshare, public drop-off and pick-up, and other important areas. All the landmarks, nearby streets, and public transport options are also depicted on the John Cain Arena parking layout map.
Visitors can click here to prebook parking and learn more about directions.
Public transport is quick, and visitors are recommended to use public transport when coming to the John Cain Arena. It has good connectivity via Tram, train, bus and taxi. Tram 70 is the direct Tram service and John Cain Arena – Stop 7C is situated just outside the stadium. Tram 48 and Tram 75 stands are also situated within a short walk. Richmond Train Station and Jolimont Station are situated within a short walk. Flinders Street Station and Town Hall Station provide connections to the John Cain Arena. Olympic Blvd / Punt Road bus stops near the stadium are connected via the bus service 246. Bicycle parking is available near the John Cain Arena, and visitors must use their own lock for safety.
John Cain Arena Bag Policy
Bags of A4 size or smaller are allowed inside the stadium after screening. Only 1 bag per person with essential items, baby food, diapers, or medicines is allowed. Prohibited items are not allowed inside the John Cain Arena. Cloakrooms are available at the information desk, gate numbers 6 and 8. All gates adhere to strict security checks; therefore, visitors are advised to allow ample time.
John Cain Arena Events 2026
| Day & Date | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, 15 Aug 2026 | PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour – Melbourne Invitational | Special Event / Bull Riding |
| Sat, 29 Aug 2026 | Victorian State Schools Spectacular – This Is Me | Concert / Family |
| Sat, 19 Sep 2026 | Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers – Round 1 | Basketball |
| Tue, 22 Sep 2026 | MAMAMOO – 2026 World Tour <4WARD> | K-pop Concert |
| Thu, 24 Sep 2026 | South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Melbourne United – Round 2 | Basketball |
| Fri, 25 Sep 2026 | Shinedown & Bush – Australian Tour 2026 | Rock Concert |
| Wed, 30 Sep 2026 | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert | Film / Orchestra |
| Thu, 1 Oct 2026 | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert | Film / Orchestra |
| Sat, 3 Oct 2026 | Melbourne United vs Cairns Taipans – Round 3 | Basketball |
| Sun, 4 Oct 2026 | South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Illawarra Hawks – Round 3 | Basketball |
| Tue, 6 Oct 2026 | Lamb of God & Trivium – Australian Tour | Metal Concert |
| Sat, 10 Oct 2026 | South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Melbourne United – Round 4 | Basketball |
| Fri, 16 Oct 2026 | Lorna Shore – Australian Tour | Metal Concert |
| Sat, 17 Oct 2026 | South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Cairns Taipans – Round 5 | Basketball |
| Sun, 18 Oct 2026 | Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks – Round 5 | Basketball |
| Tue, 20 Oct 2026 | Louis Tomlinson – How Did We Get Here? World Tour | Pop Concert |
| Sat, 24 Oct 2026 | South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Adelaide 36ers – Round 6 | Basketball |
| Sun, 25 Oct 2026 | Melbourne United vs Sydney Kings – Round 6 | Basketball |
| Sun, 1 Nov 2026 | South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Tasmania JackJumpers – Round 7 | Basketball |
| Mon, 2 Nov 2026 | Melbourne United vs New Zealand Breakers – Round 7 | Basketball |
| Sat, 7 Nov 2026 | Melbourne United vs Brisbane Bullets – Round 8 | Basketball |
| Sat, 14 Nov 2026 | Melbourne United vs South East Melbourne Phoenix – Round 9 | Basketball |
| Wed, 18 Nov 2026 | LANY – soft world tour | Alternative / Pop Concert |
| Fri, 20 Nov 2026 | Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History 15th Anniversary Tour | Alternative Rock |
| Sat, 21 Nov 2026 | Melbourne United vs New Zealand Breakers – Round 10 | Basketball |
| Sun, 22 Nov 2026 | South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Cairns Taipans – Round 10 | Basketball |
| Thu, 26 Nov 2026 | Rise Against – with Dropkick Murphys | Punk / Rock Concert |
| Sat, 28 Nov 2026 | The Wiggles – Sparkle! BIG SHOW | Family Show |
| Sun, 6 Dec 2026 | Melbourne United vs Brisbane Bullets – Round 11 | Basketball |
| Sat, 12 Dec 2026 | Melbourne United vs Tasmania JackJumpers – Round 12 | Basketball |
| Sat, 19 Dec 2026 | South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Sydney Kings – Round 13 | Basketball |
| Wed, 23 Dec 2026 | Melbourne United vs Cairns Taipans – Round 14 | Basketball |
John Cain Arena Events 2027
| Day & Date | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, 5 Feb 2027 | Paul Smith – Happy World Tour | Comedy |
| Sat, 6 Feb 2027 | South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Sydney Kings – Round 20 | Basketball |
| Thu, 11 Feb 2027 | Melbourne United vs South East Melbourne Phoenix – Round 21 | Basketball |
| Sat, 13 Feb 2027 | Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks – Round 21 | Basketball |
| Sun, 14 Feb 2027 | South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Brisbane Bullets – Round 21 | Basketball |
John Cain Arena Australian Open 2027 Schedule
| Date | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, 11 Jan – Sat, 16 Jan 2027 | Australian Open Opening Week | Tennis |
| Sun, 17 Jan – Sun, 31 Jan 2027 | Australian Open 2027 – John Cain Arena sessions | Grand Slam Tennis |
| Thu, 28 Jan 2027 | AO LIVE – The Kid LAROI | Concert |
| Fri, 29 Jan 2027 | AO LIVE – Spacey Jane | Concert |
| Sat, 30 Jan 2027 | AO LIVE – The Veronicas + SOFI TUKKER | Concert |
| Sun, 31 Jan 2027 | AO LIVE – Renéé Rapp | Concert |
