In the world of tennis, if you’re not moving forward, you’re going backward, something tournament higher-ups know all too well.
The recent changes to the Cincinnati Open were well-received, as the likes of Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff praised the tournament for the improvements they made between 2024 and 2025.
Looking to make positive changes of their own, the US Open announced a new-look mixed doubles tournament for 2025, which will feature the majority of the ATP and WTA top ten.
They’ve also begun to make changes to the facilities in New York, as part of an $800 million investment into the future of the US Open.
Shedding some insight into those changes, US Open player relations director Eric Butorac has revealed the plans for Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Eric Butorac reveals plans to ‘totally re-do’ Arthur Ashe Stadium
Appearing as a guest on the latest episode of ‘Nothing Major’, Butorac told fans what they should expect to see change at Arthur Ashe Stadium over the next few years.
“For the fans, we are going to totally re-do Arthur Ashe Stadium from the seating bowl side,” he said.
“The suites are going to move.
“There is going to be new court-side seats for 2026, and then they will have some club spaces in 2027.”
He also outlined the changes that have already been implemented in some of the smaller courts for the 2025 tournament.
“There are a couple of new touches this year. There’s a bar on Court 17, between Courts 16 and 17,” said Butorac.
“You can see into 17 and have a great view.
“It’s something we are trying this year, and we could use that at some other points throughout the venue next year.”
As part of an $800 million investment, the players will see changes to their facilities by 2027.
“Big renovations will be complete in 2027. It’s a three-year project. $800 million investment,” said Butorac.
“The player areas, as you guys know it, will be largely the same this year and next year, but by 2027, all of the player areas will move into this new building, which you will see the parking garage, which is complete, and they will live on top of that parking garage.
“So, all the player spaces will double in size. You guys know what the gym is like, the locker room is like, and the restaurants.
“It’s just absolutely slammed, and the teams now are bigger than the era when we played.”
Making space for all the players is never going to be easy, but it’s good to see the US Open making an effort.
The tournament is always one to watch and will no doubt provide some more thrilling action in 2025.
More details about the $800 million US Open renovations
Earlier this year, the United States Tennis Association [USTA] announced its plans to transform the facilities at the US Open.
Lew Sherr, then the CEO and executive director of the USTA, was excited by the plans and what they would mean for one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
“This project enables us to maintain the greatest stage in tennis, Arthur Ashe Stadium, which was constructed more than 25 years ago, and modernize it in a way that will set it up for the next 25 years,” he said.
Further details were released, outlining the changes that would be made to the facilities at Flushing Meadows.
- New $250 million player performance centre
- 2,000 new seats added to Arthur Ashe Stadium (court-side)
- New ‘grand entrance’ to Arthur Ashe Stadium
- Two new dedicated luxury suites and club/restaurant areas at Arthur Ashe Stadium
The people of New York were assured that the project would be self-funded and that access to the 2025 and 2026 tournaments wouldn’t be restricted while the renovations are ongoing.
It remains to be seen how the changes are received, but it will certainly be something to look out for over the next few years.
The 2025 US Open tournament is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, August 19, as the new mixed doubles event kicks off.
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