Remember all that controversy at the US Open caused because of delays that could have been avoided if there was a roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium? Yeah, that was fun.
Well, the USTA plans to spend $300 million to upgrade the Billie Jean Tennis Center – home of the US Open.
Things included in the dollar figure: “tearing down and replacing Louis Armstrong Stadium and building two mini-stadiums.”
Things not included in the dollar figure: A roof for Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Ugh.The new Louis Armstrong Stadium will be “roof-ready,” whatever that means. But guys and girls of the USTA, this is getting ridiculous. John McEnroe is apoplectic. You need a roof, if for no other reason than to avoid embarrassment on television again.
In 2008, United States Tennis Association chief executive Arlen Kantarian said: “I would say at this point it’s a question of when as opposed to if,” when asked when the venue would get a roof.
Clearly, we’re still waiting on that when.