By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, Might 19, 2025
Picture credit score: USTA
Arthur Ashe Stadium is present process a significant makeover.
The biggest Grand Slam stadium within the sport will probably be rennovated as a part of an $800 million mission that may remodel the US Open panorama, the USTA introduced at the moment.
The USTA says the self-funded $800 million mission will embrace a brand new state-of-the-art participant coaching middle.
The transformation will develop over three phases and be accomplished by the 2027 US Open, “with out interrupting play or fan entry for the 2025-26 occasions,” the USTA mentioned.
“The US Open is the top of sports activities and leisure, with the best athletes and followers in all of sport, and this reimagination of Arthur Ashe Stadium and building of a state-of-the-art Participant Efficiency Middle will improve the expertise for everybody that comes on website to the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle,” mentioned Lew Sherr, CEO and Government Director, USTA. “This mission permits us to keep up the best stage in tennis—Arthur Ashe Stadium—which was constructed greater than 25 years in the past, and modernize it in a method that may set it up for the following 25 years.
“It additionally supplies us the chance to present the gamers that compete in that stadium an unparalleled area that may allow them to carry out at their greatest and luxuriate in the next stage of luxurious and luxury whereas they’re off the court docket,” Sherr added. “The US Open helps us to ship on our mission—rising tennis to construct more healthy individuals and communities in all places—by showcasing our sport on the worldwide stage, and this reimagination will deliver this presentation to a completely new stage.”
One of many criticisms US Open followers have had of Arthur Ashe Stadium is that it was merely constructed too huge for tennis. Followers on the very high of Ashe have typically resorted to watching rallies on the enormous video display screen because the ball can look as huge as a tic tac to the bare eye from up excessive in Ashe.
Whereas the renovation possible will not deliver upper-deck followers nearer to the motion, the two,000 new seats within the courtside bowl the US Open will set up will certainly herald thousands and thousands in income over the course of the now 15-day match.
Bear in mind, the USTA introduced a first-ever Sunday begin for the 2025 US Open, which represents one other new income stream.
On the flip facet, given the USTA is self-funding the mission, you possibly can argue they should generate extra income from someplace to cowl the price of the $800 million tab.
The query stays: In terms of tennis is greater essentially higher?
Is it good for the game and the followers to see tennis in a close to 30,000-seat venue or is it so huge it furthers the divide between athlete and viewers?
The reply, on this case, is the extra lower-level seating and luxurious packing containers you possibly can create, the extra money you possibly can generate from the tennis ATM machine that’s the US Open. Bear in mind, they’ve already found out how you can work a 3rd week into what was a two-week main transferring combined doubles to fan week.
Right here is the assertion from at the moment’s USTA press launch:
Reimagined Arthur Ashe Stadium, Modernized and Enhanced at All Ranges
The mission will comprehensively improve and modernize the US Open’s centerpiece, Arthur Ashe Stadium, elevating the expertise for all followers inside tennis’ grandest stage. The enhancements embrace:
*A brand-new, visually placing Grand Entrance befitting the grandest stage in all of tennis.
*A 40-percent improve to the promenade-level concourse, including considerably extra open area for followers on the promenade and loge ranges.
*Utterly modernized concourses, with all-newly designed retail experiences and meals and beverage areas.
*Considerably elevated entry to restrooms on all concourses, and extra escalators and elevators to all ranges.
*An upward extension of the courtside-level bowl with 2,000 new seats, increasing the courtside expertise from 3,000 to five,000 seats.
*All-new membership and restaurant areas, with enhanced eating choices and premium hospitality areas. Two new devoted luxurious suite ranges.
*The spectator-facing components of the Arthur Ashe Stadium reimagination will happen upfront of the 2026 and 2027 US Opens, with the total timeline specified later on this launch.
State-of-the-Artwork, $250-Million Participant Efficiency Middle to Present Unparalleled Assist
Near 2,800 gamers and members of their groups converge on the US Open every year to placed on one of many best reveals in sports activities.
This reimagination will construct them a brand new, $250 million residence that gives at the moment’s and tomorrow’s high athletes best-in-class facilities, with each indoor and out of doors efficiency and leisure areas to present them every part they should maximize their on-court efficiency.
The 2-story, state-of-the-art facility will probably be constructed on the highest two flooring of a four-floor constructing on the west facet of Arthur Ashe Stadium, adjoining to the follow courts. It is going to embrace: New and expanded indoor and out of doors health and warmup areas, that includes turf, monitor and US Open court docket surfaces for coaching.
Redesigned and expansive locker rooms and lounges, offering gamers a spa-like expertise.
Upsized indoor participant eating and an all-new out of doors participant courtyard, in addition to a brand new, devoted cafe accessible solely by gamers.
Devoted participant entranceway, welcoming the perfect athletes on the planet to the largest stage in tennis.
The brand new Participant Efficiency Middle will probably be absolutely accomplished and accessible for gamers and groups by the 2027 US Open
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