The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has announced a self-funded project, consisting of a $800 million investment, the largest in the US Open history, that will reimagine and modernize Arthur Ashe Stadium and create a new Player Performance Center by the 2027 event.
The US Open and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will undergo a historic transformation, looking to enhance the experience of fans, players, and everyone who attends the event during its three weeks.
The project, self-funded by the United States Tennis Association (USTA), consists of a $800 million investment that will reimagine and modernize Arthur Ashe Stadium and create a new two-story Player Performance Center to be fully completed and accessible for players and teams by the 2027 US Open.
“The US Open is the pinnacle of sports and entertainment, with the greatest athletes and fans in all of sport, and this reimagination of Arthur Ashe Stadium and construction of a state-of-the-art Player Performance Center will enhance the experience for everyone that comes on-site to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center,” outlined Lew Sherr, CEO and Executive Director, USTA.
Constructed by Rossetti Architects and opened in 1997, the Arthur Ashe Stadium became the US Open main arena and the world’s largest tennis stage, boasting a 23,000-seat capacity.
Named after legendary tennis player Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr., the stadium, sited at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in New York City, will feature a new striking Grand Entrance, modernized concourses with increased access to restrooms, and more escalators and elevators to all levels.
Adding up to an upward extension of the courtside-level bowl with 2,000 new seats, expanding the courtside experience from 3,000 to 5,000 seats, all-new club and restaurant areas, and two new dedicated luxury suite levels.
“This project enables us to maintain the greatest stage in tennis, Arthur Ashe Stadium, which was constructed more than 25 years ago, and modernize it in a way that will set it up for the next 25 years,” added Sherr.
“It also provides us the opportunity to give the players that compete in that stadium an unparalleled space that will enable them to perform at their best and enjoy a higher level of luxury and comfort while they are off the court.”
$250 million will be invested to build the Player Performance Center, a two-story facility spanning the top two floors of a four-floor building on the west side of the stadium, adjacent to the practice courts.
The new facility will include a dedicated player entranceway as well as expanded indoor and outdoor fitness and warmup areas featuring turf, track, and US Open court surfaces for training. Redesigned and expansive locker rooms and lounges; an upsized indoor player dining, an all-new outdoor player courtyard, and a dedicated cafe accessible only by players.
Rossetti is also the lead architect of the overall renovation project that will take place over three phases without interrupting play or fan access for the 2025-26 venues.
“The US Open helps us to deliver on our missiongrowing tennis to build healthier people and communities everywhere by showcasing our sport on the global stage, and this reimagination will bring this presentation to an entirely new level,” remarked Sherr.
Standing tall since 2000 is the bronze statue dedicated to Arthur Ashe and sculpted by Eric Fischl, named Soul in Flight.
A quote inscribed in the statue, attributed to Ashe, reads: “From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.”
