Each year, hundreds of thousands of tennis fans flock to Flushing Meadows Corona Park to watch some of the greatest names in the sport battle it out for coveted Grand Slam titles at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (NTC). An $800 million renovation is planned for the stadiums by longtime architectural partners ROSSETTI. The project includes significant renovations to Arthur Ashe Stadium, along with a new Player Performance Center. With a capacity of nearly 24,000, Arthur Ashe Stadium remains the largest tennis stadium in the world. Back in 1994, Detroit-based firm ROSSETTI, led by architect of record Gino Rossetti, partnered with the USTA to realize Ashe. ROSSETTI then returned to add a retractable roof to the structure, which was completed in 2016. The roof addition was part of a larger, $550 million transformation by the firm—now led by Gino’s son, president and CEO Matt Rossetti—that included the reconstruction of Louis Armstrong Stadium, creation of the Grandstand, and enhanced fan access to the practice courts. ROSSETTI is returning to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for another set of renovations. (Courtesy USTA) “Matt and his team have come out every single year to experience the Open with us. They experience it in the eyes of the fan, the eyes of the players, and in the eye of all our partners,” shared Danny Zausner, chief operating officer at USTA Billie Jean King NTC. “When we talk to [ROSSETTI] about what’s next, they understand everyone’s perspective of what we need, not just what we’re looking for, but what they know each one of those entities are looking for.” Raising the Bar As opposed to team sports, tennis players perform on their own. At 78 feet apart, athletes are fueled by the energy of the crowd. The renovations to Ashe will increase the availability of courtside seating from 3,000 to 5,000, allowing more fans to get closer to the action. Though the distribution is being altered, by the end of the adjustments the capacity at Ashe will remain at approximately 24,000. Daniel Libeskind designed a sculptural addition to front a new bar at Arthur Ashe. (Courtesy USTA) There will also be a suite upgrade. Currently, tiers of luxury suites sit on the Club and Mezzanine One levels, allowing members to enjoy courtside views with special access to dining and restrooms. Previous offerings from the Club level will move to a newly created Mezzanine Two, opening up the lower tier for increased hospitality offerings, including restaurants and retail space. The interiors of the suites will also get a facelift, with new walls, floors, and concourses planned for  the space. Previously, if visitors wanted to shop the latest trends or grab a bite to eat, they had to exit the stadium to do so. The reimagined design brings the festival-like atmosphere under the dome,  adding expansive food and retail opportunities within the stadium itself. The promenade will reduce in capacity by about 2,800. From revamped concourses fans can take in views of the entire campus and Flushing Meadows Corona Park beyond. (Courtesy USTA) A new overlook bar will be framed by a curved, sculptural addition by Daniel Libeskind to the south entrance facade. Peak Performance The new multilevel Player Performance Center provides athletes and their coaches, trainers, and other guests to have their own zone. The Center will be a one-stop for recovery, strength training, and nutrition with a cafe, lounge, dining room, and outdoor rooftop terrace. The new construction pulls player facilities from their previous position under Ashe to the west side of the grounds. The new Player Performance Center will be designed for acclimating to both indoor and outdoor play. (Courtesy USTA) While air conditioning typically provides increased comfort, athletes were often confronted with a stark contrast between climate-controlled, indoor temperatures and the blaring late summer heat on court. The new Performance Center addresses this with an outdoor warm-up space on the third level, furnished with turf, a court surface, and a sprinting track. What Now? The upgrades are currently in progress, with ROSSETTI and Daniel Libeskind reinforcing the framing bar columns at the entrance to prepare the structure for the increased load. Further renovations will be completed in stages to maintain the quality of fan and player experiences throughout the Open. New indoor and outdoor fitness spaces will be built for players. (Courtesy USTA) “We’ve been fortunate enough to have very unique folks [at the USTA] who are so passionate about their work that they know it better than almost anybody we’ve worked with,” Matt Rossetti shared at a press event on May 19. “It’s been a great learning experience for us, gaining all of the knowledge that they have about every little piece of minutia and, at the same time, the grand vision.” All construction is expected to be completed in 2027, just in time for the Arthur Ashe Stadium’s 30th birthday.