THE US Open will be bigger, better, bolder and more luxurious come 2027 – thanks to $800million grounds transformation.
A “reimagination” of the Arthur Ashe Stadium is underway and will be ready in two years, without causing interruption to the tennis action at the 2025 and 2026 tournaments.
The 23,859-capacity stadium – the biggest permanent tennis arena in the world – is undergoing “top-to-bottom modernisation” with specific focus on hospitality improvements.
The United States Tennis Association claim that “zero public funding or taxpayer dollars” are being used for this ambitious project.
As part of the stadium plans, which will not increase the overall capacity, there will be:
- A brand-new “visually striking” grand entrance.
- A 40 per cent increase to the promenade-level concourse, adding more open space for fans, with additional escalators and elevators to all levels.
- Completely modernised concourses with retail experiences and a greater selection of food and beverage spaces – and access to more toilets.
- A new open-air terrace atop the promenade.
- An increase of courtside-level bowl seats from 3,000 to 5,000.
- New club and restaurant areas, with enhanced dining options and premium hospitality spaces.
Unlike at Wimbledon, top-paying VIPs at Flushing Meadows have to wine-and-dine guests outside of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, a short walk away.But new in-stadium luxury suites will offer an in-house sommelier, all-inclusive carving stations and plated dining service.
Full-tournament packages in the new Courtside Club will start at $48,000 for the full series of 27 sessions and are on sale now for 2027.
Bunker Suites, which can be accessed via an exclusive tunnel, will deliver prime baseline seating and a private indoor lounge.
Elsewhere, $250m of the overall $800m investment will go towards a new “state-of-the-art” player performance centre, which will be built on top of the car parking lot adjacent to the premier court.
The two-storey facility will have an indoor and outdoor performance and relaxation spaces to help players “maximise their on-court performance”.
There will be expanded fitness and warmup areas, featuring turf, track and US Open court surfaces for training.
The blueprints include “redesigned and expansive locker rooms and lounges, providing players a spa-like experience”.
If anyone simply wants to relax and chill out between matches then there will be a “new, dedicated cafe accessible only by players”.
The project’s lead architect ROSSETTI, who were behind the original construction of Arthur Ashe Stadium, created player performance facilities for the Los Angeles Lakers, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center has hosted the US Open Championships, the final Slam of the year, since 1978.
Tennis bosses estimate it generates more than $1.2billion in annual economic impact to New York City during a three-week period.
Lew Sherr, CEO and Executive Director, USTA, said: “The US Open is the pinnacle of sports and entertainment, with the greatest athletes and fans in all of sport.
“This reimagination of Arthur Ashe Stadium and construction of a state-of-the-art Player Performance centre will enhance the experience for everyone that comes on site to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
“This project enables us to maintain the greatest stage in tennis – Arthur Ashe Stadium – which was constructed more than 25 years ago, and modernise it in a way that will set it up for the next 25 years.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/sport/15107311/us-open-renovation-arthur-ashe/
