A large group of men have been banned from the Australian Open for 24 hours after setting off flares on their way to the tournament's opening day.

The group was denied entry after flares were set off just outside a ticket booth on Monday.

Two men lit flares as they walked among a group of about 15 men along Birrarung Marr, a park beside the tournament site's perimeter.

Superintendent O'Neill said security arrangements were in place to help with crowd and traffic management, but asked for patience as spectators make their way through security gates.

The Australian Open runs from 16 to 29 January.

With AAP