US Open Roof Steel Structure Completed, But Ticket Prices Go Up 15%!

by Tom Gainey | June 11th, 2015, 9:46 am
  • 6 Comments

The US Open announced yesterday that the final piece of steel was placed on what will be the new roof that will cover the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium in 2016.

“We are redefining ‘spectacular’ at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and this transformation will allow the US Open to maintain its place at the pinnacle of sporting experiences in the U.S. and around the world,” said Gordon Smith, USTA Chief Operating Officer. “With a retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium, two new stadiums and an expanded southern campus, the National Tennis Center will become the best tennis venue in the world.”

This transformation of the National Tennis Center, a $500 million project that is privately funded by the USTA, will include:
– A retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium (operational in 2016)
– A new Grandstand Stadium (slated to open in 2016)
– A new Food Village adjacent to Grandstand Stadium (2016)
– An expanded southern campus that will include new tournament courts and enhanced fan amenities (2016)
– A new Louis Armstrong Stadium (scheduled completion date 2018)


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With the roof, Forbes released a report that US Open ticket prices for 2015 have increased a whopping 15% over 2014.

According to TiqIQ, the average secondary price for 2015 U.S. Open tickets across all 24 sessions is $365.35, up 14.8% from 2014’s average of $318.04. Tickets on the secondary market averaged at $316.48 in 2013, marking a 15.4% price hike over the last two years.


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6 Comments for US Open Roof Steel Structure Completed, But Ticket Prices Go Up 15%!

Emily Says:

Noticed prices had gone up when I bought them on Monday. I love Armstrong and Grandstand and think they should leave them alone, seen so many awesome matches there and you feel close to the players


Lulu Says:

For the big matches, it just isn’t worth it to go to the US Open unless you can shell out thousands, IMO. I “saw” Clijsters destroy Mary Pierce from the nosebleeds back in the day. I much preferred the French Open (was on Lenglen though) which was much less expensive than I expected. There I actually saw Serena vs. Kuzzy, Del Potro, Soderling, Sharapova. Of course, it’s always nice to have an excuse to go to Paris, too!

At least the schedule won’t get so backed up this way!


Margot Says:

About time!


Okiegal Says:

Yippy Skippy……Hopefully no more rain delays!!


M Says:

I just … I hate to be the spoiler here, but has anybody cleared up whether or not the structure and the ground that Ashe is built on can actually support that added weight …?

I mean, I don’t expect to get a response from NYC or the USTA or the construction crews who got the contract, but …

It sure would be nice to get a response before the roof falls in on somebody important and there’s a lawsuit.

(I mean, we already had a preview of what kind of disaster is possible when that piece fell off the scoreboard at RG.)


Snowbird Says:

I’m sure the USTA consulted with a team of engineers before going ahead with the addition of the roof. I would not like to see the roof cave and someone getting injured.

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