When the 2027 US Open rolls around the tournament will have a different feel to it. That is because the United States Tennis Association has announced plans to transform the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center which also includes modernizing the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium and building a new state-of-the-art player performance center.
The modernization and upgradation will take place at an initial projected cost of $800 million, which will be fully borne by the USTA. It is the largest single investment in the tournament’s history. The redevelopment work will be carried out in a way such that the 2025 and 2026 edition of the US Open are not affected in any way.
The US Open is one of the four Grand Slams in professional tennis alongside the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon. It takes place in New York and happens in August-September every year.
“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,” said Lew Sherr in a statement. Sherr is the CEO and Executive Director, USTA.
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The entire redevelopment has been split into three phases. The timeline of these phases are as follows:
Phase 1 (ahead of 2025 US Open), Phase 2 (between the 2025 US Open and 2026 US Open) and Phase 3 (between 2026 US Open and 2027 US Open).
Phase 1 includes structural reinforcement of column loads at Arthur Ashe Stadium to support future in-stadium construction and upgrades, development of the first two floors of the upcoming four-story Player Performance Center—featuring parking facilities—in the current Parking Lot A, and various behind-the-scenes activities that will not be immediately noticeable to attendees of the 2025 US Open.
Phase 2 will see will the removal and replacement of the existing courtside and suite levels in Arthur Ashe Stadium with a new, expanded courtside bowl and two dedicated luxury suite levels. Simultaneously, the top two floors of the four-story Player Performance Center in Parking Lot A will be constructed, though the facility will not be completed or accessible to players until after Phase 3, when interior work is finalized.
The final phase will aim at completing all remaining projects in Arthur Ashe Stadium, including the construction of the iconic Grand Entrance designed by Daniel Libeskind; new loge and promenade levels featuring an expansive concourse and a publicly accessible premium bar with sweeping views of the Fountain Plaza and the Unisphere; and comprehensive upgrades to all concourses, encompassing enhanced retail, food and beverage areas, restrooms, and other fan amenities. Additionally, two new sets of escalators and two elevator banks will be added at the South entrance to improve crowd flow throughout the stadium. This phase will also introduce a series of premium hospitality lounges designed by Garrett Singer, offering unparalleled in-stadium experiences for premium ticket holders. Concurrently, the interior of the Player Performance Center will be completed and opened to competitors and teams ahead of the 2027 US Open.
According to a Reuters report, this announcement comes seven years after the USTA completed a five-year, $600 million renovation project at the grounds. The report said that the 2024 edition of the US Open witnessed a record attendance as the tournament had a footfall of over a million tennis fans.
Prakhar Sachdeo
The Sportz Planet Desk
