Richard Pagliaro | @tennis_now | Monday, May 19, 2025
Image source: USTA
Arthur Ashe Stadium Major renovations are underway.
USTA announced today that the largest Grand Slam stadium in the sport will be adjusted as part of a $800 million program that will transform the open landscape in the United States.
The $800 million self-funded project will include a new state-of-the-art player training center, USTA said.
USTA said this transformation will be completed in three stages at the 2027 Open and will be completed in the 2027 Open without interrupting matches or fan visits at the 2025-26 event. ”
“The U.S. Open is the pinnacle of sports and entertainment, with the greatest athletes and fans of all sports, and the reimagining of Arthur Ashe Stadium and the construction of the state-of-the-art player performance center will enhance the experience for everyone in the USTA Billie Jean National National Center.” USTA CEO and Executive Director Lew Sherr. “The project allowed us to maintain the biggest stage in tennis – the Arthur Ashe Stadium, a stage that was built 25 years ago and modernized in a way that will be set for the next 25 years.
“This also provides us with an opportunity to make players participating in the stadium an unparalleled space that will allow them to perform best and enjoy a higher level of luxury and comfort outside the stadium,” Sherr added. “The U.S. Open can achieve our mission by presenting our sport on the global stage to build healthy people and communities everywhere to build healthier people and communities, and this reconstruction will take this speech to a whole new level.”
One of our public criticisms about Arthur Ashe Stadium is that it is simply too big to build. Ashe’s top fans sometimes watch the rally on the huge video screen, as the ball looks as big as the Tic Tac from Ashe’s Up High The Naked Eye.
While the renovation may not bring upper deck fans closer to the action, the 2,000 new seats to be installed in the U.S. Open will surely bring millions of dollars in revenue over the 15-day game. Remember that the USTA announced that they will be the first ever Sunday of the 2025 U.S. Open, which represents another new revenue stream. On the other hand, given that USTA is a self-sufficiency project, you can say they need to generate more revenue from somewhere to pay the $800 million selling price.
The question remains: must be much better when it comes to tennis?
Is it a good thing for the sport and for fans to see tennis on a nearly 30,000-seat field? Or is it so huge that it can further increase the gap between athletes and spectators?
In this case, the answer is the lower-level seats and luxury boxes you can create, the more money you can generate from the tennis ATMs that are open in the US. Remember, they have figured out how to work on the third week of the two-week major mixed doubles fan week.
Here is a statement in today’s USTA press release:
Reimagine Arthur Ashe Stadium, modernization and enhancement at all levels
The program will comprehensively enhance and modernize the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the core of the U.S. Open, thereby enhancing the experience of all fans in the grandest stage of tennis. Enhancements include:
*A brand new, visually stunning grand entrance suitable for the most grand stage in tennis.
*The promenade level halls have increased by 40%, adding more open space to fans on the promenade and Loge level.
*Full modern conference with a brand new design retail experience as well as food and beverage space.
* Greatly increase the chances of all concourss on the bathroom, more escalators and elevators to all levels.
*Extending upwards from the Court Bowl with 2,000 new seats, expanding the court experience from 3,000 to 5,000 seats.
* Brand new club and restaurant area with enhanced dining options and premium hotel space. Two new dedicated luxury suites on level.
*Arthur Ashe Stadium’s reimagined audience-oriented elements will be conducted before US Opening in 2026 and 2027, with a full schedule specified later in this release.
The most advanced, $250 million player performance center with unparalleled support
Each year, nearly 2,800 players and their team members come together at the U.S. Open to compete in one of the greatest shows in sports.
This reimagination will build them a new $250 million home that offers top athletes today and tomorrow’s top athletics, with indoor and outdoor performances and relaxation spaces to give them everything they need to maximize their on-field performance.
The state-of-the-art two-story facility will be built on the first two floors of the four-story building on the west side of the Arthur Ashe Stadium near the driving range. It will include: new and expanded indoor and outdoor fitness and warm-up areas including turf, track and field and US Open Field Surface for training.
The wider dressing room and lounge are redesigned to provide players with a spa-like experience.
Indoor player dining and a brand new outdoor play home yard and a new dedicated cafe are only accessible to players.
The dedicated player entrance welcomes the best athletes on the planet to the biggest stage of tennis.
New Player Performance Center to be fully completed before the 2027 U.S. Open and visits for players and teams
