US Open Reviewing New Roof Option
US Open tennis officials say they are ready to ‘develop’ plans for a roof over the Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadow although no final decision has been taken.
This year’s event has been disrupted by rain and an extra day’s play will be required for the second year running but the estimated $100m cost of a roof remains a major issue.
‘We are substantially farther along the road of consideration than we were six months ago,’ said US Tennis Association chief Gordon Smith.
‘There had been a few preliminary studies regarding a roof. We have gone past the consideration stage of ‘Are we going to at least look at plans?’ to actually developing plans, which at some point in the not-too-distant future will give us some idea of cost.
‘It will be some time before there’s any decision made on whether or not to go forward with the roof.
‘We would be looking at issues some years down the road and the present economy has not slowed the process at all.’
The main courts at the Australian Open and Wimbledon each have a roof, and there are plans to construct one at the French Open.
However the size of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, which has a capacity of 23,000, makes it a more expensive process than at the other Grand Slam tournaments.
‘Would be great to have a roof,’ said Smith. ‘Would be great to have the money to put the roof up. It’s a much more difficult decision.
‘The reason is we’re non-profit. Our mission is to grow and develop the game of tennis.
‘Are you going to spend $100m or more, we don’t know exactly, on a roof that you might use once a year, which would be the average, or is the money better spent promoting the game?’
An alternative to building a roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium would be to do so on the Louis Armstrong Stadium or Grandstand Stadium.
‘The master planning group is going to consider a wide range of options,’ said Smith.
‘Once we understand the cost of the roof over Ashe, it could lead to some consideration of other options. Nothing is out at this point.
‘When we look at the design considerations, the cost of that, consideration of another stadium is not off the table.’
