Margaret Court Arena is a multipurpose venue for sports and indoor entertainment. It is situated inside Melbourne Park in Australia. It is primarily used to host tennis, netball, entertainment events, concerts, and other similar events. 7500 is the current capacity of Margaret Court Arena and it is popularly known as MCA in Melbourne Park. Margaret Court Arena seating map helps in finding the seats.
The construction of the tennis court in Melbourne Park started in 1987, and it was completed in the same year. It was opened in 1988 as Show Court 1. The name of the arena changed to Margaret Court Arena at Melbourne Park in 2003. The capacity of Show Court 1 was 6000 and a major redevelopment was completed in 2014. The capacity of the MCA increased to 7500 along with the retractable roof, to host indoor events. Multiple advancements and other facilities were added for the comfort of visitors.
Margaret Court Arena has been the primary venue to host the Australian Open since 1988. It is also used to host the Davis Cup for the Australian national team. Melbourne Vixens netball team uses MC Arena to host their home games. It has been the home of the Melbourne United basketball team and the Collingwood Magpies netball team. It has hosted many notable events such as the Australian Open, basketball, netball, and other indoor sports. It is a popular venue to host concerts, family shows, combat sports, etc.
The Government of Victoria owns Margaret Court Arena, and the Melbourne and Olympic Park Trust operates it. Melbourne Park has multiple venues and Rod Laver Arena is one of the most popular multipurpose indoor arenas. AAMI Park and John Cain Arena are also popular, and they are situated inside the park. Melbourne Cricket Ground is Australia’s largest stadium and the world’s second-largest cricket ground; it sits across the railway line from Melbourne Park and is connected by a footbridge.
Margaret Court Arena Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue | Margaret Court Arena |
| Location | Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Address | Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne VIC 3001 |
| Venue type | Indoor, multi-purpose arena |
| Seating capacity | Approximately 7,500, depending on event configuration |
| Primary sport | Tennis |
| Other events | Concerts, comedy, family shows and special events |
| Public entrances | Melbourne Park entrances from Olympic Boulevard and Batman Avenue |
| Nearest train stations | Richmond, Jolimont and Flinders Street |
| Parking | Eastern Plaza Car Park; pre-booking recommended |
Margaret Court Arena Seating Plan
The seating map of MC Arena shows the location of tennis courts with seat arrangements. The map shows the locations of entry doors, covered sections, and uncovered areas. The sections in dual color are open areas, while the single-color sections have shades. It has a retractable roof, which is used mostly for concerts and other similar events. It has sections reserved for premium guests and guests with disabilities.
Wheelchair seating sections and bays are situated inside the Margaret Court Arena, and these are available mostly with pre-booking. All the required facilities, such as accessible washrooms, changing rooms, companion seats, etc are available inside the arena. The location of the player entrance and other areas is also indicated on the map. All the sections of the arena with row numbers can be seen on the map.
Margaret Court Arena is a popular choice in Melbourne for concerts and similar events. Temporary seating arrangements with a performance stage are set up on the court to accommodate the additional guests. The seating sections behind the performance stage might be unusual due to obstruction from the stage.
The location of the Margaret Court Arena, with entrances, box office, and directions, is shown on the map. The layout of the seats can be slightly different according to the needs of the organizers.
Margaret Court Arena Best Sections
The seating sections around the performing stage are the best areas inside the MCA.
| Seating Type | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Seats | Tennis and all-court views | Side-on seats near the court’s centre provide a balanced view of rallies and player movement | Premium rows can be expensive |
| Best Budget Seats | Value for money | Higher rows or seats farther from the court can offer a broad view at a lower price | Players appear smaller and details are less visible |
| Premium & VIP Seating | Luxury & exclusive experience | Premium hospitality or reserved packages may offer upgraded services and amenities | Higher cost; inclusions depend on the event |
| Seats to Avoid | — | Compare the view from the specific seat map before purchasing | Seats behind the baseline give a less balanced view of court depth; seats near stage edges may have restricted views at concerts |
The color-coded maps help in choosing the best sections at the Margaret Court Arena. Different types of seats are coloured differently, including the gate numbers and the seats exposed to sunlight. The map is quite useful for choosing the best seats before booking.
The layout of the arena also helps in finding the various facilities around the arena.
Margaret Court Arena Parking Map
It is situated inside Melbourne Park, and Eastern Plaza Car Park is the main parking lot for the Margaret Court Arena. It is situated at Entrance D and can be used to park vehicles while coming to the MC Arena.
The location of all parking maps inside Melbourne Park, venues, transport options, directions, and other facilities is shown on the precinct map. Accessible parking is available, and pre-booking is highly recommended for disabled parking and general parking. Yarra Park (MCG), Secure Parking, and Wilson Parking are the other nearby parking lots in case the main parking is full. $20 is the parking fee for advance parking booked for events and $30 for drive-up parking. $7.5 is the flat parking fee for non-event days.
Visitors can click this link to pre-purchase parking and get directions. Richmond Train Station is a convenient option to reach the Margaret Court Arena. Jolimont and Flinders Street Station are other nearby train stations. Tram 70 also stops near the arena. Tram 48 & 75 and Bus 245 provide connectivity.
Margaret Court Arena Bag Policy and Storage
| Item | Policy |
|---|---|
| Standard bags | For most events, bags must be A4 size or smaller |
| Sports and family events | One bag per person; it must fit under the seat |
| Medical bags | Larger bags may be permitted for medical requirements and are subject to inspection |
| Handbags at concerts | A4 size or smaller; bags with studs or embellishments may be refused |
| Small cameras | Handheld personal cameras permitted |
| Large cameras | Detachable lenses over 300 mm are prohibited |
| Umbrellas | Small umbrellas allowed but must not be opened inside |
| Suitcases | Cannot be stored or cloaked at the venue |
Storage facilities are generally not available for large bags and prohibited items. Cloakroom is available at the information desk at door 7 or at show court 3 (depending on the event).
Margaret Court Arena Events 2026
| Day & Date | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, November 1, 2026 | Richie Jen — World Tour 2026 | Concert |
| Friday, November 13, 2026 | Death Cab for Cutie — I Built You a Tower Tour | Concert |
| Saturday, November 14, 2026 | Ashanti — Rock Wit U Tour | Concert |
| Saturday, November 21, 2026 | Humanoid Fighting Championship | Special Event / Combat Sports |
| Saturday, December 5, 2026 | James Blake — Trying Times Australia Tour | Concert |
| Wednesday, December 9, 2026 | Dijon — Australia 2026 | Concert |
| Thursday, December 10, 2026 | SUPAGLOO — The Bandroom @ MCA | Concert |
| Friday, December 11, 2026 | Jimmy Eat World | Concert |
Margaret Court Arena Events 2027
| Day & Date | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, January 11 – Sunday, January 31, 2027 | Australian Open 2027 — tennis sessions at Margaret Court Arena; individual matches announced during the tournament | Tennis |
| Friday, February 5, 2027 | The Fray | Concert |
| Thursday, February 11, 2027 | Dayseeker | Concert |
| Friday, February 12, 2027 | KALEO | Concert |
| Wednesday, March 3, 2027 | Tove Lo | Concert |
| Thursday, March 4, 2027 | Trisha Paytas — The Eras of Trish Tour | Comedy / Live Show |
| Friday, March 5, 2027 | The Fray — Summer of Light Tour | Concert |
| Saturday, March 13, 2027 | Ronan Keating — Just Getting Started World Tour | Concert |
| Friday, April 2, 2027 | SUPAGLOO — The Bandroom @ MCA | Concert |
| Saturday, April 3, 2027 | Sam Barber — Australia Tour 2027 | Concert |
| Sunday, April 4, 2027 | Sam Barber — Australia Tour 2027 | Concert |
| Saturday, April 10, 2027 | Lenny Pearce — Toddler Rave World Tour | Family / Children’s Event |
| Friday, April 16, 2027 | Delta Goodrem | Concert |
| Thursday, May 20, 2027 | UB40 | Concert |
| Friday, May 28, 2027 | Craig David — Born to Do It World Tour | Concert |
| Saturday, May 29, 2027 | Will Sparks | Concert |
| Saturday, June 26, 2027 | Icehouse — Man of Colours 40th Anniversary Tour | Concert |
| Saturday, August 7, 2027 | Icehouse — Man of Colours 40th Anniversary Tour | Concert |
