The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is facing a lawsuit from the family of William "Slew" Hester, the creator of the National Tennis Center in Queens. The family claims that the USTA is erasing Hester's legacy by demolishing his box in Arthur Ashe Stadium and offering inferior seats at a staggering price tag of nearly $500,000. This is not the first time the family has sued the USTA; they previously reached a settlement agreement in 1998, which included better seats, regular bus and restaurant passes, and lifetime rights to attend the US Open. However, the USTA has allegedly been working to undermine this agreement and freeze the Hesters out.
Hester, a Mississippi oil man and former USTA president, played a pivotal role in the creation of the National Tennis Center. In the 1970s, he spotted the Singer Bowl, a city-owned facility that had fallen into disrepair, and convinced city officials to build Louis Armstrong Stadium to host the US Open. This move thrust the competition onto a more prominent and lucrative stage, and Hester was rewarded with lifetime box seats for him and his heirs, as well as a memorial plaque and a namesake restaurant.
However, the USTA's attitude toward the Hester family changed after Hester's death in 1993. The family alleges that the USTA charged them a $45,000 annual fee for seats in Arthur Ashe Stadium, which were placed in a corner with blocked sightlines. This led to a 1998 settlement agreement, which the USTA has allegedly been working to undermine ever since.
The USTA's recent renovation of the tennis center, which removed all lower-bowl seating, including Box 35G, has further exacerbated the situation. The family's only option for 2026's competition is to take regular seats costing $460,000, which will jump to $560,000 by 2030. The family claims that the USTA's decision to eliminate their lifetime box and offer inferior seats is an attempt to diminish Hester's legacy.
Adding insult to injury, the family also claims that Slew Hester's memorial plaque has been removed, and no explanation has been given for this action. The USTA has responded by stating that they have fulfilled their commitment to the Hesters by providing them with the opportunity to purchase seats in a location consistent with their prior seats.
This case highlights the complex relationship between the USTA and the families of its pioneers. While the USTA has a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the sport and its history, the family's claims suggest that they may be falling short in their commitment to honor Hester's legacy. The outcome of this lawsuit will likely have significant implications for the future of the National Tennis Center and the role of its creators' families in its management.
