Open Season On The Sausage

The Sunday Age

Sunday January 16, 2005

MURIEL REDDY

THE age of the sausage is still with us at the Australian Open. In a sporting tournament that lives on statistics, it has been revealed that 12,300 sausages were consumed by tennis fans at last year's Open and organisers expect that volume to be devoured again in this, its centenary year.

"There is just something about the smell of onions and the sizzle of sausages that has huge appeal," explains Sandie Martin. And she should know. As the venue catering manager for Delaware North for the past three years, Ms Martin is responsible for every morsel of food consumed during the two-week event.

Food is big business at the Australian Open. Last year, for example, fans ate more than 120,000 ice creams, three tonnes of curry and rice, seven tonnes of noodles, 37,000 sandwiches, 32,000 dim sims, 17,000 oysters and three tonnes of salmon.

The planning that goes in to feed the masses is meticulous and starts as soon as the Open ends. "We basically follow up on the feedback, the comments and reports," explains Ms Martin.

"We also factor in changing tastes, trends, public demand and, of course, the climate."

Providing choice is also crucial to planning. Patrons can eat on the run or dine in the Cafe Arena.

"The expectation is to see fresh produce," says Ms Martin. "In this kind of heat people like to see fresh salads and fruit."

While the taste of the hoi polloi runs to sausages and chips, players are much more careful about what they eat. Ms Martin says their preference is for foods rich in carbohydrates such as pasta with sauces on the side, salad buffets, and they also favour the "make-your-own sandwich".

Staying cool is also crucial. Ms Martin is anticipating a demand for 900 litres of water a day during the tournament.

More than half a million fans are expected this year. The Open will be broadcast to over half a billion homes in 183 territories worldwide. These figures stand in sharp contrast to the first tournament played at the Warehouseman's Cricket Ground (now Albert Reserve) in 1905 when 17 players competed and the final was played in front of 5000 people.

"We have certainly come a long way," says Geoff Pollard, the president of Tennis Australia. "We have grown into a grand slam event equal in computer points and status to the other grand slams in Paris, London and New York."

The success of the Open has also been a boon for the Victorian economy, bringing in more than $200 million. "It also has huge television coverage worldwide, representing nearly 4000 hours of exposure in key markets," says Mr Pollard.

The tournament provides work for more than 1000 staff and that excludes the 1500 people recruited to provide food. According to Kerrie Clarke, the tournament's HR manager, she receives well in excess of 1500 applications for the 306 ballkid jobs. Competition is also fierce for the 65 statistician jobs on offer.

SPORT 10-page Australian Open guide

MILESTONES PAGE 15

INSIDE All the Open winners

TOMORROW

Special 4-page guide

How to get the best out of the Open

LINKS www.ausopen.org

www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis