US TENNIS OPEN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK 2016
Flushign Meadows Park
The US Tennis Open in New York City’s Billie Jean King Tennis Center is the last Grand Slam tennis event of the year and the largest. This year the event runs from Monday, August 29th to Sunday, Sept 11th and, chances are it will actually end on that day with the advent of the long-awaited “roof” over the center court of Arthur Ashe stadium. Over the last few years, the men’s finals had to be pushed back to Monday due to seemingly endless rain delays.
The dome is visible below, seen from the Grand Stand
The stadium is basically the same, but also hugely transformed: in addition to the famed new roof, a new Grand Stand was built, with a capacity of about 8, 5000 seats. It looks very contemporary (even features transgender restroom facilities) and provides easy access from many entry points. There are shade screens and powerful night lights.
Petcovic serving; Muguruza receiving. Both won their first rounds.Photo's by Olga Simoncelli
We generally like to go on the first day of the Open so as to catch as many players as possible before they might get eliminated early in the first rounds. Our strategy paid off! We saw many of the established “greats” (e.g. Novak Djokovic, Serena and Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Stan Wawrinka) as well as some upcoming promising talent, either as they were playing a match, or practicing hitting on one of the practice courts.
Venus practicing; Tsonga in his first match.
Many of the side courts were built out to include more spectator space and multiple, smaller food courts sprang out throughout the grounds. The food fare was more varied and the lines seemed shorter due to greater availability of vendors. Alas, the prices were not lower… for food or tickets. Somehow the cost of the $150-Million dollar new dome needs to be recouped.
Parking was ample, but far-flung as the Mets are playing all this week at their adjacent Citi field ball stadium, precluding the use of that venue’s convenient parking areas.
More changes at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center are in the plans, e.g. my beloved old Grand Stand is to be demolished (it was a very intimate smaller court), Louis Armstrong is to be re-built with its own roof, while a temporary one is to be housed in a neighboring parking area, and who knows what else.
Changes or not, it’s always a great event that tennis enthusiasts as well as players enjoy every year. The only sad thing is the timing as invariably the US Tennis Open signals the end of the summer.
IF YOU’RE A TENNIS PERSON AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE TO FIND HOMES IN CONNECTICUT THAT HAVE TENNIS COURTS OR ARE NEAR TENNIS COURTS, CALL OLGA OR EMAIL at consultwitholga@gmail.com .
Note: all photo's by and property of Olga Simoncelli
Comments(10)