MELBOURNE: A new multi-purpose 5,000-seater stadium is to be built at Melbourne Park as part of efforts aimed at keeping the Australian Open grand slam tennis tournament at its current site, Victoria state treasurer Tim Pallas said on Sunday. Work on the stadium, which is part of a $271 million development programme, will begin in 2019. The stadium will be used for tennis, basketball, concerts and other sports. The tournament has been shared among Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and New Zealand since its inception in 1905 but has been played at its current home since 1988. Reports have suggested not only Sydney but international cities including Shanghai and Dubai are keen to host the tournament, dubbed as the ‘Grand Slam of the Asia Pacific’.