Wednesday 17 November 2010

300 Million Facelift at US Open

The USTA has approved a $300 million renovation project at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which includes the demolition and reconstruction of Louis Armstrong Stadium as well as the addition of two smaller stadiums around the grounds, according to Dan Kaplan with Sports Business Journal. The process of knocking down Armstrong, the main center court at the US Open from 1978 to 1996, won’t begin for a few years. 

However, construction on one of the two mini stadiums will begin immediately. The replacement stadium for Louis Armstrong would hold 12,000-14,000 fans. Currently, Armstrong holds 10,200 fans. The new stadium will be roof ready in case a roof is needed in the future. Construction will begin immediately on a 3,000-seat mini stadium, which will be built adjacent to the hospitality building on the property’s less busy southeast corner. That mini-stadium may or may not be ready for the 2011 U.S. Open, but will be ready for 2012. For now the USTA will spend $30 million on the first portion of the overhaul project.

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