USTA officials yesterday unveiled plans to build an 8,500-seat temporary stadium for the '17 U.S. Open. The officials were showing off the ongoing renovations at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which for the '16 event includes a roof over the main stadium, a new fan thoroughfare and a new 8,000-seat Court Three. Following this year's event, Louis Armstrong Stadium will be torn down. It currently seats 10,103 and its replacement in '18 will seat 14,000. The temporary stadium will be built in a parking lot. A vendor to provide that stadium has not been chosen (Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer). On Long Island, Jeff Williams notes the facility's "entire south campus, composed of 10 field courts, was demolished and is being completely rebuilt with a wide spectator boulevard connecting the new Grandstand to Court 17." The site plan "calls for far greater open space, far greater shade, more restrooms and a new food court near the Grandstand that will take pressure off the concession lines at the present food court on the east side of the property." USTA Exec Dir & COO Gordon Smith said, "This is going to be a U.S. Open unlike any other. ... We've transformed the entire grounds. It will be better for fans, it will be better for players" (NEWSDAY, 3/1). Smith added, "You're not going to know you're in the same place. It's that dramatic" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/1).
