Tennis
Arthur Ashe Stadium Capacity: How Many Fans Can It Hold?
A true New York gem, Arthur Ashe is the biggest stadium in the world of tennis!
Arthur Ashe Stadium//Getty Images
Arthur Ashe, the gem of New York City – well at least from a tennis perspective! The stadium, which opened in 1997, is the largest tennis-specific venue in the world, boasting a total capacity of over 23 000.
It is the marquee stadium and centre court at the US Open and is named after the first winner of the men’s singles tournament in 1968. Over the years, it has no doubt witnessed countless remarkable tennis encounters and housed the world’s biggest stars.
The Top Three Stadiums in the World
Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Capacity: 15 818
Home to the Rotterdam Open, this arena is the third-biggest tennis stadium in the world.
Indian Wells (Stadium 1) – Capacity: 16 102
Arguably the biggest tennis tournament outside of the four Grand Slams – Indian Wells is the second biggest tennis stadium in the world.
Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York – Capacity: 23 771
Incredibly the biggest tennis stadium in the world is over 7500 seats bigger than any other in the world of tennis.
Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. (1943 – 1993)
Tennis Professional Arthur Ashe//Getty Images
The stadium pays tribute to Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. He was born in Richmond Virginia and began playing tennis from the age of just ten years old. In 1966, Arthur graduated from the University of California, where he won the United States Intercollegiate Singles Championship and led his university team to an NCAA championship.
However, it was in 1968 that he would put his name down in history for good. Ashe went on to be crowned the US Open champion and later was ranked as the number one tennis player in the United States.
By 1979, Ashe suffered with heart problems and was forced to retire from the game he loved. He underwent heart surgery later that year and again in 1983. Arthur Ashe used his fame to speak out against societal injustice, famously condemning (and protesting against) the South African Apartheid government. All of this would earn him the 1992 Sports illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
Arthur passed away at the age of 49 due to pneumonia.
Did you know that the courts of Arthur Ashe were not always blue? Until 2005, the courts were in fact green! However, it became increasingly difficult for players to see the ball and so the courts were changed to blue.
Arthur Ashe is memorialised in the stadium with a bronze statue sculpted by Mr Eric Fischl. The piece is called Soul in flight and was unveiled on the 28th of August 2000. The memorial is said to depict the two great loves of Ashe – education (represented by the books) and tennis (represented by the racket placed in his hand). The statue also holds an inscription – “From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life”.
The US Open
Once Arthur Ashe was constructed and opened in 1997, the stadium replaced Louis Armstrong Stadium as the main facility, and became the headquarters of the National Tennis Center. Costing a whopping $254 million, the 23 000 seat stadium not only functions as the host for the US Open. During the remainder of the calendar year, the courts are open to the public and often house many events.
The US Open is a Grand Slam – that is to say it is considered to be one of the most prestigious competitions in tennis. The most recent winners include the likes of Jannick Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, Rafa Nadal and Serena Williams.
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Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.