The Arthur Ashe Center Court at the US Open tennis tournament will be expanded as part of an $800 million renovation project at the Flushing Meadows tennis complex, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced today.
The USTA described the announced work at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as "the largest single investment in the history of the US Open," the BBC reported.
The plan includes increasing the capacity of the Arthur Ashe Stadium by around 2.000 seats. The stadium currently seats 23.771 spectators and is the largest tennis stadium in the world.
The construction of a new main entrance to the stadium is also planned, while the existing fan facilities within the facility will be modernized.
Additional plans include the construction of a new player preparation center at Flushing Meadows, with expanded indoor and outdoor warm-up areas.
The USTA plans to fund this project itself, and the work will take place in phases between tournaments to avoid interruptions and disruptions, with the goal of having everything completed by 2027.
"This project allows us to preserve tennis's greatest stage – Arthur Ashe Stadium – built more than 25 years ago, and modernize it in a way that will prepare it for the next 25 years," said USTA CEO and General Manager Lou Sher.
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