Every time the US Open rolls around, I always see shots of Arthur Ashe Stadium. And every time I think, is that the best they could do?! Rod Laver Arena, Wimbledon Centre Court and Roland Garros Stadium is so much better planned and beautifully set up. Arthur Ashe Stadium looks like they quit half way thru. Does anybody else ever think the same? Why is the US Open so aesthetically unappealing? Maybe this is what Americans like...
Of the 4 GS Sites, the US Open must be the ugliest...
- Thread starter IlliniSky
- Start date
Devilito
Hall of Fame
America.. home of McMansions, cookie cutter suburbs and obnoxiously large automobiles. And you're surprised? Their design plan pretty much consisted of “how big can we make it to maximize profits”. There is zero architectural artistry involved.
Jonnykobles
New User
The largest tennis court in one of the largest cities of the world is not appealing?
Pink_Shirt
Rookie
AO use to have the worst looking venue. That horrible green court? Out of all 4 of the GS, I want to say French Open needs the biggest improvement. Come on, nasty teal colors on that bright red clay? Looks like it hasn't been changed from the 70's (it really hasn't). They need to modernize that Slam.
polski
Semi-Pro
Yeah, Rolland Garros is so well planned out that they are going to have to move the site in the next few years.
Ashe & Laver are modern stadiums. Centre Court & Phillipe are classic stadiums. It's apples to oranges and comes down to personal preference. It's impossible to design a modern/classic stadium.
polski
Semi-Pro
ummmm... the USO had that same green court at the exact same time.
Grass_for_cows
Semi-Pro
Because New York basically has no architectural artistry, right? Whereas places like Coventry, UK, or Frankfurt, Germany, don't have any ugly suburbs.
Devilito
Hall of Fame
the entire thread is about the stadium yet you bring up New York City. Amazing
It's a whole new level of ignorance for youGaudio2004
Semi-Pro
Well I've been to Wimbledon and yes it's brilliant (the style, class of spectators/players, design, etc) but nothing, not RG or AO included, come close to US Open night matches. so call it ugly, but when you focus on the court at night, the US Open produces some unbelievable tennis, im talking about agassi vs blake, agassi vs baghdatis, gasquet vs hewitt, etc..
Grass_for_cows
Semi-Pro
Stosur is the one with larger biceps.
Tennis_Monk
Hall of Fame
In terms of architecture, Arthur Ashe stadium is very good.
In terms of audience experience overall, USO is crappiest as far as i am concerned. Just made my annual trip and it is as ugly as it needed to be. Should have sold my tickets --could have been worth 300$ a pop.
In terms of audience experience overall, USO is crappiest as far as i am concerned. Just made my annual trip and it is as ugly as it needed to be. Should have sold my tickets --could have been worth 300$ a pop.
ollinger
G.O.A.T.
You design a building mindful of its surroundings. Ashe Stadium is a brick facade in a borough (Queens) of brick rowhouses. Bordered on one side by grungy railroad yards, it would not lend itself to a very modern or avant garde design. That it seats about 5000 too many people for watching tennis is undeniable.
chaddles
Semi-Pro
I am curious about large American sporting venues and their lack of cover over stands.. They build large and impressive football stadiums without a roof for spectators, and Arthur Ashe is the same - just doesn't look right.
Having been to the Aus Open a few times and comparing it to other venues (pics, maps and other peoples POV), it looks like it is the most impressive layout of them all and the most friendly spectator experience.
Having been to the Aus Open a few times and comparing it to other venues (pics, maps and other peoples POV), it looks like it is the most impressive layout of them all and the most friendly spectator experience.
I agree. The Australian Open is the most impressive of the four. I'd say Wimbledon too but that grass court at the end of two weeks is just bad.
Baikalic
Semi-Pro
Can you go into more detail? Why is the experience crappy?
polski
Semi-Pro
Sakkijarvi
Semi-Pro
Quibble, quibble
I agree that the view from the 300 seating at Ashe is not ideal for tennis. Far from it. But really, any large sports venue, sell-outs, standing room only crowds, on the night of an important game or match... is about being there and being part of the experience, the roar of the crowd, supporting your team with your voice. This is not something baseball, football and NASCAR fans would quibble about.
I agree that the view from the 300 seating at Ashe is not ideal for tennis. Far from it. But really, any large sports venue, sell-outs, standing room only crowds, on the night of an important game or match... is about being there and being part of the experience, the roar of the crowd, supporting your team with your voice. This is not something baseball, football and NASCAR fans would quibble about.
ollinger
G.O.A.T.
Having sat ONCE near the top of Ashe, I would say that you're NOT really part of the experience as you can barely see what's happening and barely perceive the emotions of the players. The analogy to baseball, football and NASCAR is self defeating as those events do not occur on a stage 78 feet long.
ashitaka2010
Semi-Pro
I just love all the colors...
OKUSA
Hall of Fame
I just love all the colors...
that would be a sweet background if it was in 1920x1200
As much as people rave about how great the facility is at the USOpen, I much preferred the old layout.
Sure, it was a smaller stadium and the grounds were not as commercially minded (What the commentators call "fan friendly"), but it was intimate and made for a great day or night out at the Open.
Sure, it was a smaller stadium and the grounds were not as commercially minded (What the commentators call "fan friendly"), but it was intimate and made for a great day or night out at the Open.
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