Even after a successful 2023 US Open, the tournament in New York City keeps grabbing headlines. But this time it’s not because of the matches or the players; it’s because of the place where the last and final Grand Slam tournament of the year is played. For the past few days, the Arthur Ashe Stadium has dominated the press, drawing tennis fans’ attention to a growing issue.
The world’s largest tennis venue, recognized for hosting some of the greatest matches in tennis history, has startled the tennis world into a strangling situation. Something has threatened the sport’s hallowed ground. Let’s take a look at what’s happening in New York City that might take away the stadium’s very existence.
Arthur Ashe Stadium raises alarming concern
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According to a NASA study, there is a geological survey that might raise concern for the massive tennis stadium. The ground beneath the arena is subsiding at a rate roughly three times quicker than the rest of New York City. Yes, in simple terms, the Arthur Ashe Stadium appears to be sinking. Moreover, it is happening at such speed that there might be no stadium in the future.
In accordance with recent studies, the entire city of New York is sinking at a pace of around 1.6 millimeters every year. But the area surrounding LaGuardia Airport and Arthur Ashe Stadium has been marked as the worst hit. The largest tennis venue is sinking three times faster than the average, at a rate of about 4.1 millimeters per year. Even though the fact that the tennis arena is sinking is not a huge surprise considering the area’s history. When the region was covered in glaciers in the past, it was subject to glacial isostatic adjustment, which means that it will gradually descend with time.
Nevertheless, concerns about the land beneath the stadium were part of the discussion during the construction of the retractable roof back in 2016. Although the US Open was the Grand Slam event to have a retractable roof, the stability of that region served as one of the primary barriers to its development over time. But do you know that this year, the tournament saw the retractable roof closely because of the extreme conditions that dominated the city?
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Arthur Ashe Stadium’s retractable roof saved this year’s US Open
Going back to a little construction while the engineers were not able to build on the top of the stadium, the new roof was constructed as a separate structure around the existing arena. Carrying its own roof rules, this year, the tiring and sweaty conditions forced the tournament to amend its roof policy. Due to the hot and humid weather at Flushing Meadows, the tournament might have seen the hottest day at the US Open this year.
While the tournament opened its wings in the form of the roof, as soon as the tournament entered the quarter-final stage, there was a new rule that this year the stadium would be partially closed. Even though the fans this time got to see something new at the New York Arena, the sinking of the stadium might worry the community at large.
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What is your take on the current update of the Arthur Ashe Stadium? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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