USTA Plans Massive Makeover For U.S. Open Facilities
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — The U.S. Tennis Association plans to give the home of the U.S. Open a makeover that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, but does not include putting a roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The USTA unveiled its plan Thursday to upgrade the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, starting in the fall of 2013.
The renovation calls for the 6,000-seat Granstand adjacent to Louis Armstrong Stadium to be relocated, seven tournament courts to be moved to create more room for spectators to move about the grounds and for Armstrong Stadium to be rebuilt and expanded from 10,000 seats to 15,000. In 1997, Armstrong Stadium was replaced by Arthur Ashe Stadium as the main court and was downsized from 18,000 seats to the current 10,000.
Danny Zausner, director of operations for the tennis center, says it will take about a year to get approval from New York City. Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the plan.
The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center opened in 1978.
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