The USTA announces that a retractable roof will be built over Arthur Ashe Stadium as part of its $500 million expansion plans. With rain pushing the men’s final to Monday for the past five years, the organization had been investigating the possibility of the roof for some time, but until recently could not find a cost-effective solution. The USTA has said in the past that not only did a roof have to be affordable, but also be light enough for stadium, which opened in 1997, to be able to support its weight.
The USTA will hold a press conference on Thursday to unveil the new design.
The USTA is already committed to tearing down the aging Louis Armstrong Stadium and the Grandstand and replacing them with new stadia, among other projects as part of its transformation of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, where the U.S. Open is held.
In a press release, the USTA said it will unveil designs for the two new stadia, the southern relocation of some courts, and a practice-court viewing plaza, so presumably all of those projects are still to be completed. However, sources have told TENNIS.com in the past that if a retractable roof was to be constructed, extra money beyond the $500 million would have to be found, or other projects might have to be put on hold.
It is unclear when the roof will be constructed, but earlier this summer sources said that having it completed by 2016 was far-fetched. The New York Daily News is reporting that 2016 is a possibility if all goes well, including what could be a lengthy permit process.