for breaking news visit www.qns.com AUGUST 25, 2016 • The CourieR SUN 51 sports THE US OPEN TAKES COVER AT LAST WITH A RETRACTABLE ROOF AT ARTHUR ASHE BY RO BER T POZARYCKI [email protected]/@robbpoz For nearly two decades, whenever rain poured down upon Arthur Ashe Stadium during the U.S. Open, all the fans, players and open organizers could do was take cover and wish the rain would come back another day. Finally, they won’t have to worry about the rain any longer. When the U.S. Open officially gets underway on Monday, Aug. 29, the marquee tennis matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium should go on uninterrupted by the elements thanks to a new, $100 million retractable roof that was completed last month. Part of a $600 million overhaul of the entire Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the roof’s 2 million-pound panels can open and close within seven minutes. This means weather delays and cancellations at Arthur Ashe should be minimal if not nonexistent. In recent years, rain marred the latter stages of the U.S. Open tournament. For a period of five consecutive years, the men’s final had to be postponed by a day due to inclement weather, aggravating fans who paid top dollar for their Sunday afternoon tickets and hurting TV ratings. Along with the roof, the 2016 U.S. Open will also feature the debut of the tennis center’s new Grandstand Stadium, a circular, 8,125-seat arena where some other key matches of the tournament will take place. As always, the fun gets underway two days prior to the U.S. Open’s start with Arthur Ashe Kids Day this Saturday, Aug. 27. Match play begins on Monday morning in the men’s, women’s and doubles brackets. The U.S. Open will hold a star-studded opening ceremony on Monday night that will feature performances by Queens native Leslie Odom Jr., who won a Tony Award for his role as Aaron Burr in the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton,” and iconic singer Phil Collins. Fans will also get to enjoy a special light show. The tournament runs through Sunday, Sept. 11, and public transportation is the best way to get to the matches. Take the 7 train or the Long Island Rail Road to the Mets-Willets Point stations, which are a short walk from the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. For tickets, visit www.usopen.org.
SC08252016
To see the actual publication please follow the link above