The U.S. Open is in town and Congressmember Anthony Weiner is making a racket in the hopes that the United States Tennis Association (USTA) hears him.
Weiner, who represents Queens and Brooklyn, wants the U.S. Open to return to its old stomping grounds at the West Side Tennis Stadium in Forest Hills for one match a year. He sent his request in a letter to Lucy S. Garvin, chairperson of the board and president of the USTA.
“To honor the rich history of the U.S. Open, I propose that one match a year be played at the West Side Tennis Club,” said Weiner. “It is time for the United States Tennis Association to give back to Forest Hills.”
For more than 60 years, the historic stadium in Forest Hills hosted the largest tennis competition on U.S. soil until it moved to Flushing Meadows to accommodate larger crowds in 1977. Wiener would like to see the Open return to the quaint neighborhood beginning next year.
“Holding such a prestigious tennis match in Forest Hills would boost tourism in the area and would also bring a renewed interest in using the stadium for other events,” he said.
The representative’s request comes on the heels of a proposal to turn the Stadium into luxury condos – preserving only the outer façade and columns. The proposal, made by the West Side Tennis Club in conjunction with developer Cord Meyer, has come under fire from officials and community members who would rather see the stadium landmarked.
Weiner, along with Councilmember Karen Koslowitz, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi, sent a joint letter to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission asking whether or not the land is up for landmark status.
West Side Tennis Club members are expected to meet at the end of September to vote on the sale of the stadium, which aside from tennis, has also hosted concerts by The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix.
Neither the Tennis Club nor the USTA returned requests for comment.
