Tennis, momentous turning point around the corner: the US Slam moves to Manhattan, here’s everything you need to know.
Flushing Meadows is the American mecca of tennis. It’s not exactly within reach, however, for those in the Big Apple. You can reach it easily by public transportation, sure, but the fact remains that it is not centrally located.
For this reason, a major leading construction group is reportedly considering building a brand-new area in downtown Manhattan that could house the Us Open tennis courts. The group in question is Vornado Realty Trust, which has reportedly already identified the site on which to build. It would do so on the side of Seventh Avenue opposite the one where Madison Square Garden stands, in an area that could hardly be more central than that.
The uniqueness of the project presented does not lie in the location itself, but rather in the fact that the tennis courts should rise in place of the old Hotel Pennsylvania, on a lot that was originally supposed to house a new 61-story skyscraper. The low demand for real estate from residents, linked to the crisis that followed the pandemic, would be considered to redevelop the area and revitalize it, therefore, with a crisper project of public interest.
Starred projects: tennis courts instead of a hotel
The renderings presented by the group’s office are, indeed, spatial. Within them one can glimpse not only tennis courts, but also spaces dedicated to soccer, basketball, and even fashion. Vornado, as reported by the Daily Mail, however, stressed that these are, at the moment, only ideas. Nothing is certain, yet, to be clear.
“The Penn site,” said the ceo, referring to the former Hotel Pennsylvania area, “is an event space located in the heart of Manhattan, directly across the street from Penn Station. With its prime location and access to 650,000 daily passengers, it offers brands a unique opportunity to activate space on New York City’s newest stage. The site’s open layout and advertising/signage opportunities make it ideal for a wide range of events, while the city’s vibrant energy ensures maximum visibility and engagement to leave a lasting impression.
It is hard to imagine the Us Open leaving its historic location, but it is not out of the question that this area could one day host at least a “slice” of the many matches played as part of the star-studded Slam. Will tennis move to the beating heart of the Big Apple? We will soon find out.