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Author Topic: US Open Tennis stadiums really fun and ?  (Read 1656 times)

Offline taggie

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US Open Tennis stadiums really fun and ?
« on: August 31, 2011, 10:23:14 AM »
 First, I want to say that the cheap seats at the US Open are all good seats. Even if you are not particularly a tennis fan
it's easy enough to watch and have some semblance of what's going on. And then there is the spectacle of the seating
and the much more diverse crowd watching now. Vamos Rafa on many t-shirts. Food and other exhibits are a pleasant
surprise in something available for everyone. Am sorry now we didn't go sooner as it was really a fun time.
 Second, does anyone know the reason this stadium can't be used for more than tennis? Small-ish concerts. Classical,
experimental music maybe? Other net sports that are gentle to the playing surface. Here are two great spaces in the heart
of Queens with excellent transit options. Why can't we use them alot more than these few weeks out of the year? Seems
a shame to let such a nice facility be under utilized as I am sure some of our tax dollars are going this way. Anyone?
 
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Offline carrefour_ny

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Re: US Open Tennis stadiums really fun and ?
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2011, 01:44:00 PM »
Yeah, I also like the Arthur Ashe. I'm not sure it's financed by taxpayers' monies; the owner is USTA and they've paid for its construction (and are currently the ones to try and figure out whether it makes sense financially and otherwise to have a roof installed there). I suppose they get some tax breaks but they also bring business to an area of the city that rarely gets inflow from outside.

From a wikipedia entry it appears that the stadium has been used for a fundraiser basketball game but the big issue is that it is open-air only, which makes it unusable for half the year. And then of course any plans to use it for anything else must be coordinated with the owner's vision of it.

Which game did you see? Are you going to any semis or finals as well?
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Offline homeowner

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Re: US Open Tennis stadiums really fun and ?
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2011, 07:14:10 PM »
Most of the courts are used year round for lessons, clinics and tournaments. I have played there for years. Anyone can play and the prices reasonable. Went on the first day and will be there again for women's semi finals. The Open is one of the great annual NYC events. IMO that is.   
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Offline taggie

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Re: US Open Tennis stadiums really fun and ?
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2011, 10:38:32 AM »
Am glad to know that a roof is being considered and that it's used more often. I knew there were lessons but was not sure how many.
Good to know. It's just that it's impressive how well run this operation is and that it's so close to Jackson Heights I wish there were
more ways to take advantage of it as a venue for other sports/cultural events. Hope to see more games but so far only made it to
Tuesday evening. Just as a comparison, the Maker Faire, another wonderful Flushing Meadows event was weak in attendance last
year and some of the vendors said "Oh, it's just hard to get people with money to come to Queens." I said "You should come to the
US Open sometime..." This fact (of the tremendous operation here) seems to fly under the radar of a lot of people.

PS- game yesterday with Donald Young was intense! Terrific come back story. More in today's NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/03/sports/tennis/at-open-donald-young-seeks-to-realize-his-potential.html?ref=sports
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Offline lapdanson

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Re: US Open Tennis stadiums really fun and ?
« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2011, 09:17:22 AM »
I went with my office to an evening match. Since we didn't have time to eat, we went to the concessions at the stadium. They have a lot of variety including Chinese food, Mexican, etc. But we were very disappointed by the quality of the food. The food is greatly inferior to what you would get at other stadiums in NYC (Yankees, Mets, MSG).
If you're going to a match, you're better off eating somewhere else in Queens beforehand.
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Offline taggie

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Re: US Open Tennis stadiums really fun and ?
« Reply #5 on: September 04, 2011, 01:06:02 PM »
For food- next time try the burgers and the fish & chips. Both were great. Would've sat down at one of the cafes but no time.
Though our standards, especially for Chinese in Flushing, dictate eating a few blocks away before coming to the stadium.
And for Mexican too.
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