NEW YORK — U.S. Open spectators must wait out rain delays at Arthur Ashe Stadium for one more year. In the meantime, they're getting a break from Mother Nature in a very different way: shade from the blazing sun.
A framework of more than 6,500 tons of steel now sits atop center court for the Grand Slam tournament. In 2016, it will support a retractable roof, the culmination of a project that requires two years to complete.
Two of the four sides were covered during the first phase of construction, creating newfound shade for many fans in the upper deck who used to bake on steamy days.