A new tennis stadium in Flushing Meadows Corona Park has been officially dedicated just in time for the U.S. Open.
On Aug. 22, nearly 1,800 tennis fans came to witness the dedication of the new Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The 14,069-seat stadium served as the theater and the main attraction during the U.S. Open’s Queens Day.
In 2013, the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA), which operates the center, decided to reshape the look, feel and functionality of the grounds that host the U.S. Open every summer. Construction on the new Louis Armstrong Stadium began in 2016 after the conclusion of that year’s U.S. Open.
The Louis Armstrong Stadium is the second arena at the center to feature a retractable roof. The stadium also features two entranceways with a grand staircase, an escalator and elevator, visiting areas on the lower concourse, storefronts featuring U.S. Open Collection, Polo Ralph Lauren, Adidas and Wilson, and a variety of food, drink and merchandise concession stands.
The ceremony kicked off with Queens’ own John McEnroe addressing the crowd and reflecting on his own past championship wins at the U.S. Open. The ceremony continued a performance of an eight-piece marching band led by jazz legend Wynton Marsalis.
To finish off the event, tennis pros James Blake and Michael Chang took on McEnroe and his brother Patrick in a Legends doubles match, with Blake and Chang taking home the victory.
Photos by Dominick Totino Photography
