The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is an American stadium complex located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York City. This is the home of the US Open Grand Slam tennis tournament that is played annually in August and September, since 1978. It is operated by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The facility has 22 courts within 46.5 acres (0.188 km 2 ; 0,0727Ã, sqÃ, mi) and 11 in adjacent parks. The three stadiums of this complex are one of the largest tennis stadiums in the world, with Arthur Ashe Stadium at the top of the global list with 23,200 registered capacity. All 33 courts have been using DecoTurf's soft acrylic surfaces since the facility was built in 1978.
Located near Citi Field, New York Mets home, and LaGuardia Airport, the tennis center is open to the public for 11 months of the year (closed during bad weather and in August/September due to US Open), restrictions on tournaments held by USTA (such as junior competitions and wooden racket competitions).
On August 28, 2006, the USTA National Tennis Center was re-authorized as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Video USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Histori
The idea of ​​a tennis center emerged in January 1977, when William Hester, the newly admitted USTA president, saw the underused Singer Bowl on a flight to nearby LaGuardia Airport. He asked New York City to let him use the stadium and adjoining land for tennis facilities to host the US Open. The stadium has been renovated and divided into two places: Louis Armstrong Stadium and adjacent stands. The National Tennis Center opened in August 1978.
After rumors about a possible move to San Diego, the massive increase and expansion began in March 1995. More land was handed over to the USTA National Tennis Center, and in August 1997, the newly built Arthur Ashe Stadium replaced Louis Armstrong Stadium as a court main. The four-year expansion was completed in 1999. Arthur Ashe Stadium holds over 22,000 spectators while Louis Armstrong Stadium is downsized to accommodate only 10,000 spectators (the original size is 18,000). In 2006, at the site of a long indoor tenement building near the East Gate, work began in a 245,000 square foot, multi-purpose tennis court. The new facility was completed in 2008 and includes 12 courts, classrooms, fitness facilities, and pro shop. It also includes a hospitality center, museum, and commissary food. Other renovations include a player lounge, locker room, and medical, training and office space.
In 2011, the facility opened a new show court, Court 17, located on the southeast corner of the field, seating 2,500 to 3,000, making it small compared to other facilities in the show court. The next measure after the trial - Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, and Grandstand (last with 8,125 capacity) - the court has a large television screen and Hawk-Eye electronic calling capabilities that allow for player challenges. In building a new court, the foundations of the 1939 and 1964 World Fairs were found, and the water table found several feet higher than expected. Because of Court 17's playing surface below ground level, the new court has received the nickname "The Pit".
The center is in the midst of a $ 550 million renovation that includes a roof installation that can be opened at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which is competed for the US Open 2017. The new show opens in 2016 in the southwest corner of the complex. It has 8,125 seats, making it the third largest court in the center, and replacing the old Grandstand. The new Louis Armstrong Stadium, with a seating capacity of 14,000 seats (also with an open roof) is being built at the original Armstrong Stadium location, and is scheduled for the 2018 US Open.
Maps USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Other uses
In July 2008, the US National Tennis Center Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe Stadium hosted the first non-tennis event, when New York Liberty of the National Women's Basketball Association (WNBA) played in "Liberty Outdoor Classic: 2008". The game itself is a historic event because it is the first regular professional basketball game ever played outdoors in the US, by both men and women. The contest featuring Indiana Fever beat New York Liberty.
USTA Bill's National Tennis Center Billie Jean King is home to the annual New York State High School tennis championships, held in May. The tournament is sponsored by the New York State General Athletic High School Association (NYSPHSAA).
See also
- Sports in New York City Ã,§ Tennis
References
External links
- official USTA website
- Official US Open website
- The official Billie Jean King National Tennis Center web page. USTA official website
- NEWS: Ashe & amp; Armstrong Stadium. May 25, 2008. The official website of USTA
- the New York City Sports Commission web page. NYC: Official Guide Website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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