Tennis-American open venue to undergo $ 800 million transformation

(Add details, quotes) by Amy Tennery New York, May 19 (Reuters)-The US Open website will undergo a $ 800 million transformation on Monday, the Usta on Monday said with a ‘top-to-bottom’ modernization of the famous Arthur Ashe stage and a new player performance center planned for the Spraving Queens. The work at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will be completed by the US Open 2027, with the construction occurring in phases to avoid any interruption of the 2025 or 2026 issues of the tournament. The Usta will be completely funded the project, without the use of public funds or taxpayer money, said the national governing body of the sport, which calls it the largest single investment in US Open history. “This project allows us to maintain and modernize the biggest stage at tennis – Arthur Ashe Stadium – built over 25 years ago in a way that will set it up for the next 25 years,” Usta executive director Lew Sherr said in a statement. “It also gives us the opportunity to give the players competing 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 off the track.” The Arthur Ashe Stadium upgrades include the addition of a new ‘large entrance’ to the facility, 2,000 new seats to the bakkie on the track and two new luxury suite levels. The stadium, by far the largest tennis facility in the world with capacity, will also be upgraded with concoures, eateries and retail stores. A two-story, $ 250 million player performance center, will include extensive indoor and outdoor fitness and warm-up areas, improved indoor players and redesigned locker rooms that promise a ‘spa-like experience’. The renovations are far from the days that players can expect a barrel of beer in the men’s locker to be the best comfort, four-time winner John Mcenroe told reporters at a Manhattan event. “In our time we would be like ‘what the hell is it? ‘,’ Said 66-year-old Mcenroe, an indigenous New Yorker and the last man who won a major with a wooden tracket. “To see how Usta is going for the US Open … I know that the players will be absolutely excited to see it.” The announcement comes seven years after the Usta Renovation Project of $ 600 million completed on site. The more than 14,000 capacity Louis Armstrong Stadium opened in 2018 to replace the 1978 stadium with the same name, with an attractable roof. The US Open welcomed more than one million fans, a record, in 2024. The tournament’s most important draw was expanded to 15 days in 2025, with the extra day making the most important traction for another 70,000 participants or more, the organizers said. (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Ken Ferris editing by Christian Radnedge and Ken Ferris)