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**pongeystrhjst** · 05-07-2011, 06:37 PM

The U.S. Open opened Arthur Ashe Stadium to great fanfare in 1997, a state-of-the-art facility that seemed to represent everything great about big-time tennis in New York.
In truth, it was never that great. It was too big, almost comically so, giving upper-level fans the idea they were watching a pair of ants. It didn't carry the hint of intimacy, the hallmark of any great arena. And right now, it's little more than an embarrassment.
If you don't agree, you haven't been paying attention to developments around the world. The Australian Open has had a roof over Rod Laver Arena for more than 20 years, plus an additional show-court ceiling. Wimbledon's Centre Court enjoyed the blessing of its retractable roof (now three years old) throughout the first week of this year's tournament and has discussed plans to cover Court One. The French Open is planning a roof at Roland Garros in time for the 2014 event.
The U.S. Open? On a losing streak, stuck without the new technology, and seeing no way out.
In a bitter blow to last year's event, the men's final was postponed until Monday for the third straight year, compounded by a preposterous television setup that saw CBS rudely sign off the air (at the onset of a rain delay) and turn things over to ESPN2. The whole operation was strictly minor league, leaving one to think, this is the U.S. Open? That's the best we can do?
Several years ago, then-USTA president Arlen Kantarian would call the occasional press conference to reveal behind-the-scenes discussion of progress. It sounded reassuring, but there seems to be no feasible way to cover Ashe Stadium. It would be like trying to cover Nebraska.
There has been talk of putting a roof over Louis Armstrong Stadium, which once served as the tournament's centerpiece, but there are two problems: (a) It wouldn't be appropriate to shift final-weekend action away from the main stadium, to say nothing of potential ticket hassles, and (2) Armstrong was built on marshland and is due to be condemned, in essence, within the next six to eight years.
"I have to think there have been quiet talks about this," said a source close to the USTA. "There have to be. Because they have to do something."
Right now, the most powerful people in American tennis can do little more than pray for sunshine. Sensible answers are not forthcoming.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1RFmUDgl1

05-07-2011, 06:37 PM	#1
pongeystrhjst Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 718 Senior Member	Arthur Ashe Stadium "an embarrassment" The U.S. Open opened Arthur Ashe Stadium to great fanfare in 1997, a state-of-the-art facility that seemed to represent everything great about big-time tennis in New York. In truth, it was never that great. It was too big, almost comically so, giving upper-level fans the idea they were watching a pair of ants. It didn't carry the hint of intimacy, the hallmark of any great arena. And right now, it's little more than an embarrassment. If you don't agree, you haven't been paying attention to developments around the world. The Australian Open has had a roof over Rod Laver Arena for more than 20 years, plus an additional show-court ceiling. Wimbledon's Centre Court enjoyed the blessing of its retractable roof (now three years old) throughout the first week of this year's tournament and has discussed plans to cover Court One. The French Open is planning a roof at Roland Garros in time for the 2014 event. The U.S. Open? On a losing streak, stuck without the new technology, and seeing no way out. In a bitter blow to last year's event, the men's final was postponed until Monday for the third straight year, compounded by a preposterous television setup that saw CBS rudely sign off the air (at the onset of a rain delay) and turn things over to ESPN2. The whole operation was strictly minor league, leaving one to think, this is the U.S. Open? That's the best we can do? Several years ago, then-USTA president Arlen Kantarian would call the occasional press conference to reveal behind-the-scenes discussion of progress. It sounded reassuring, but there seems to be no feasible way to cover Ashe Stadium. It would be like trying to cover Nebraska. There has been talk of putting a roof over Louis Armstrong Stadium, which once served as the tournament's centerpiece, but there are two problems: (a) It wouldn't be appropriate to shift final-weekend action away from the main stadium, to say nothing of potential ticket hassles, and (2) Armstrong was built on marshland and is due to be condemned, in essence, within the next six to eight years. "I have to think there have been quiet talks about this," said a source close to the USTA. "There have to be. Because they have to do something." Right now, the most powerful people in American tennis can do little more than pray for sunshine. Sensible answers are not forthcoming. Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1RFmUDgl1
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