5. Arthur Ashe Stadium – Flushing Meadows, NY

Because it’s only relevant for one two-week span per year, not much attention is paid to the premiere court at the US Open. And that is probably for the best.
The stadium was constructed in 1997 with the stereotypically American purpose of being the largest tennis venue in the world. As is proven so often in sports architecture, “bigger” almost never translates to “better.” The rows are so long that it makes getting in and out of your seat a mind-blowing hassle, while also creating a seemingly endless line of people sliding by to block the spectators’ views.
The construction of such a large venue also puts those sitting in the ominously-monikered “Row Z” 120 feet (10 stories!) above the court. That’s a nuisance at a football or basketball game. Imagine having to follow a tiny ball back and forth from that height. Not fun.
In another case of their eyes being bigger than their stomach, the developers of the stadium created such a high capacity (21,000) that even the Men’s Final at the US Open doesn’t sell out. Which goes back to my assertion that nothing hurts the ability to enjoy a stadium like empty seats.
Which brings me to my next fault with the US Open: their seating policy. Tennis is a sport that hinges upon silence and focus from its fans. Both those aspects go out the window in Flushing Meadows, as spectators don’t have to wait for stoppages in play to take their seats, so both noise and distractions run pretty high during even less-crowded event

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