FIRST LOOK: USTA unveils $800 million overhaul of US Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium

The biggest stage in tennis is getting a major makeover.

The USTA unveiled plans for an $800-million “reimagining” of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Monday, which includes a top-to-bottom transformation of the US Open’s iconic center court, Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The largest single investment in the tournament’s 145-year-history, the project is set to be completed by the 2027 US Open. It will take place across three phases, without interrupting play or fan access for the upcoming editions.

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“This is an incredibly exciting moment for our sport and for the US Open,” said USTA chairman and president Brian Vahaly. “We're proud to unveil the largest single investment in the history of this event, a multi-year transformation that will elevate the experience for every fan, player and partner who enters the grounds at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center…

“The upgrades to Arthur Ashe stadium, alongside a new state of the art player Performance Center, will ensure that the world's premier tennis venue will excel for generations to come.”

Fans can expect more elbow room in Arthur Ashe Stadium, which was built in 1997 and last renovated in 2016, with new loge and promenade levels—including a new, expansive promenade concourse with an oversized, publicly accessible premium bar featuring views of the Fountain Plaza and the Unisphere.

Also in the works will be a new state-of-the-art Player Performance Center to support the nearly 2,800 players and teams who converge on the US Open every year. The $250-million facility features a two-story player area—amenities include both indoor and outdoor performance and relaxation spaces, as well as expansive locker rooms and lounges—and a two-level parking structure on what is currently Parking Lot A.

The project is entirely self-funded, with no public funding used as New York City is set to continue reaping the benefits of the US Open’s more than $1.2 billion in annual economic impact. That’s more than the New York Yankees and New York Mets combined, according to Lew Sherr, the USTA’s CEO and Executive Director.

“Tennis is absolutely having a moment,” Sherr said on Monday.

“There is something for everybody in this design,” he added. “We are enhancing and modernizing every aspect of Arthur Ashe Stadium and the venue—from seating to concourses to restrooms to points of sale, also including premium hospitality and courtside experiences.

“There's also an extraordinary opportunity to support our athletes in a much better way (with) …a modernized and new facility with premium amenities and equipment to allow them to compete at their absolute best, and also to allow them to enjoy the three-week experience with us in Queens like never before.”

The USTA’s ambitious plan is just the latest major project in a tennis ‘building boom’: The Cincinnati Open is set to unveil its own total site overhaul, including a new sunken stadium, this summer. The Mutua Madrid Open also announced expansion plans during last month’s event, while Wimbledon is set to upgrade the fan favorite “Henman Hill” ahead of its 150th anniversary.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame has also previously announced major site upgrades, in time for golden-era inductees like Roger Federer and Serena Williams.

More tennis stadium news:

• Cincinnati Open to get total site overhaul, including new sunken stadium, by 2025
• Hall of Fame getting a face lift in time for golden era inductees like Roger & Serena
• Wimbledon plans to upgrade the fans' favorite hill for 150th anniversary
• Madrid Open unveils expansion plans that impress Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff