Ace! New Look On-Court Environment

17 October 2007

Earlier this month, Rod Laver arena was transformed into the centre court of the 2008 Australian Open. The reason for setting-up 3mths early was to launch the biggest change to the look of the Australian Open in more than 20 years.  The key physical 'on-court’ elements of this new look, such as player and umpire seating, serve-speed indicators, ball guards and even the players entry arch, were all designed, developed and project managed by CobaltNiche.

As one of only four ‘Grand Slams’ (the others are Wimbledon, French Open and US Open) the Australian Open tournament is in elite company.  The 2 week event attracts more than 550,000 live spectators to Melbourne’s tennis precinct and in 2008 will have a potential global TV audience of 1.9 billion people.

As with most sporting codes, the playing environment of major sports events is the primary visual window for the whole competition. Not just a field of play for the world’s best tennis practitioners, the on-court environment is also a stage, a television studio, a workplace and an advertising site. 

The new look is a critical part of Tennis Australia’s effort to confirm the Australian Open’s standing as one of the world’s best sporting competitions.  Along with the new Plexicushion playing surface, the on-court furniture plays a key role in projecting the Australian Open as a world class event, with a distinct and modern feel. 

 

 

Key Project Specs
Objectives Reflect Australian Open’s refocused brand attributes of ‘fresh, innovative and high performing’ through a distinct and identifiable visual language;
Satisfy sponsors TV requirements;
Incorporate new blue corporate colour;
Design solution

Umpire’s Chair became the thematic leader for the other elements. It projects a dynamic, victorious thrust, using tensioned fabrics to produce a complex surface instead of a traditional frame structure. Secondary elements feature single planar surfaces folding over solid forms.

CobaltNiche Tasks   Visual Positioning;
Industrial Design;
Sun, Shadow and Sightline Simulations;
Mechanical Design;
Product Engineering;
Prototyping;
Project, Production and Budget Management
Major Components   Player, Umpire, Officials and Statisticians’ Seating;
Serve-speed Indicators;
Ball guards;
Players Arch
Development Period

22 weeks
May to October 07
CobaltNiche Team

Warwick Brown (Project Leader)
Daniel Booker (Design)
Major Suppliers Synergy Displays, U-Neek Bending, Supertrim