US Open in New York: Mayor Dinkins Legacy - Arthur Ashe Stadium

With the start of the US Open this week, we will include articles and photos of Mayor Dinkins lasting achievement in preserving the tennis grand slam event in New York City.

Mayor Dinkins ensured that the US Open would stay in New York City. This legacy maintains one of the most important athletic events in the country for the City. When the agreement to keep the tournament was reached, the Mayor said: “the best deal for a municipal stadium in the nation.” He added “It has never cost the city of New York 5 cents in all these years. And I might add further that the revenue generated into the economy of the city during the two weeks of the tournament are more than the Yankees, Mets, Knicks and Rangers combined."

Naming the center court stadium at the renovated USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center after tennis legend Arthur Ashe was a no-brainer for the United States Tennis Association.

Ashe won the first US Open in the Open era in 1968, becoming the tournament’s first African-American male champion. On Feb. 19, 1997, the USTA and the New York City Council announced that the $234 million facility would bear the International Tennis Hall of Famer‘s name.

David Dinkins, who served as New York City mayor when the USTA approached the city in 1990 about the possibility of a new stadium, said naming the site after Ashe was a unanimous decision. More important than what Ashe had done for the sport, Dinkins said, was what he had done for society.

“I have never, ever, heard anybody question the appropriateness of the stadium being named for Arthur. This is remarkable.”

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