News » 010, they were intrigued. Still, the firm

NEW YORK -- U.S. Open rain delays at Arthur Ashe Stadium will be no more by 2017. The Grand Slam tournaments centre court could be covered by a retractable roof as soon as the 2016 tournament, but more likely the following year, U.S. Tennis Association officials said Thursday. As the mens final was delayed to Monday each of the last five years, they had insisted a roof wasnt yet feasible financially or structurally. A decade after the USTA started studying the issue and three years after architectural firm Rossetti began researching the project, the price tag and the technology are finally workable. The construction will cost about $100 million, down from earlier projections of $200 million. The U.S. Open becomes the last of the four major tournaments to cover up. The main stadiums at Wimbledon and the Australian Open already have roofs, and the French Open is planning one. Flushing Meadows No. 2 stadium, Louis Armstrong, will eventually be covered, too. Someday the Grandstand, the third-largest court, may be, as well. The Ashe roof will be part of a broader, previously announced project to rebuild and expand other courts at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The total price tag is estimated at $550 million. The USTA must still receive final approvals from the city for the plans. The organization had commissioned three different studies over the years that determined a roof wasnt feasible. The last time the USTA made a request for proposals, in 2009, it did not select Rossetti, the original architect for Ashe. The firm "took it rather personally," said Danny Zausner, the tennis centres chief operating officer. "Behind the scenes, they worked on the project for free for a year to try to come up with a concept that no one else thought of," he said. When Rossetti presented its findings to USTA officials in 2010, they were intrigued. Still, the firm was a long way from solving the riddle of topping Ashe. As USTA executive director Gordon Smith put it: "It wasnt built for a roof, and the land conditions around it on the site are abysmal." "We had to find out how to support 5,000 tons of steel on soil that is mush," said Matt Rossetti, the firms head. Using lighter materials atop the stadium was considered, but that proved unworkable. The USTA was willing to remove some seats, though not the entire upper bowl. Technology innovations over the years helped in making what was once impossible possible, Rossetti said - in particular, computer modeling. But he estimated that 80 per cent of the shift simply came from the painstaking, time-consuming process of delving into different options. A big breakthrough occurred just six months ago, when the firm surmised that the roof could be supported by only eight columns. At one point, the prediction was 32 -- and there wasnt space for that at the tennis centre. It was only two months ago that Rossetti determined the eight columns would actually work. Meanwhile, the rain kept falling at the Open. This years mens final is slated for Monday from the start to spread out the tournament more and reduce the odds that Mother Nature wreaks havoc with the schedule. The streak of bad weather didnt speed up the goal of a roof, Zausner said, though it certainly reminded USTA officials why they wanted one. As recently as last years tournament, they were still left explaining why they couldnt do it. "I dont think it was as much pessimistic as frustrated," he said. Players vented about starting and stopping matches and quick turnarounds as officials tried to squeeze competition in after delays. They didnt want to hear about poor soil and prohibitive costs. "I can appreciate from their perspective: This isnt my problem. Fix it," Zausner said. The USTA lost TV revenue money. The fans, though, were still coming. "Even though were selling record tickets, is it building frustration from our fans and our broadcast partners? Theres no question," Zausner said. "But if we could have had this design five years ago and knew what we know today five years ago, Im sure we wouldve had a roof five years ago." The roof, made of a lightweight fabric, will take 5-7 minutes to close, though delays will last longer for drying the court. Zausner said the USTA couldnt learn much from Wimbledon and the Australian Open other than the best time for closing the roof, because the stadiums are so different. The Grandstand will move to the opposite corner of the complex, with capacity increased from 6,000 to 8,000 fans. Armstrong, which currently seats 10,000, will be replaced with a larger version that can hold 15,000. The construction will allow for more and improved concessions than the two 50-year-old stadiums currently support. New tournament and practice courts with additional seating also will be built so more fans can see the players in action; they could be complete as soon as next years Open. As of now, only a few dozen spectators can squeeze in a view of the practice courts through a fence. Walkways will be widened and esplanades created in an attempt to reduce the bottlenecks that frequently pile up between the main entrance and Ashe. The tennis centres capacity for each day session will increase from 40,000 to 50,000 people. The new Grandstand is scheduled to open by the 2015 Open and Armstrong by 18. Fans will see some of the work in progress; temporary bleachers likely will be used around the new Armstrong court at the midpoint of the two-year project. The USTA will fund the project through bonds and increased revenue; officials said ticket prices would not be raised to pay for it. A gap between the roof and stands will let in fresh air, and the stadium will be climate controlled. The challenge is to keep conditions similar for the players with the roof open and closed. "I dont particularly like going from indoors to outdoors to indoors. Its also tough," defending champion Andy Murray said Wednesday at the Western & Southern Open outside Cincinnati. "But its good for TV. Its good for fans that are watching. For the players that are scheduled on that court, its great."Custom Nets Jersey China . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Julius Erving Jersey Large .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. http://www.customnetsjersey.com/ . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Authentic Custom Nets Jersey . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Nets Jerseys China .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament.They smiled, they waved, they danced, they took selfies and front and centre was Australian cycling legend Anna Meares.Australias Olympic team made a rousing entrance at the opening ceremony, with the beaming two-time gold medallist leading the way.Dressed stylishly in pin-striped blazers, the contingent of 100 or so athletes and officials soaked in every moment in a slow lap around the Maracana stadium.The majority of Australias 421-strong team were back in the Olympic Village, resting ahead of early competition.But that mattered little to those able to take part.Meares said leading the Australian team was an amazing experience.Coming through the tunnel I could see the lights and the colour and the crowd and then the team did an `Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Meares told AAP.I just turned to Kitty (Chiller) and said thank you.Australias Olympic team tweeted it was the ultimate honour (for the) ultimate champion.While tennis star Daria Gavrilova described the march as the best experience ever.They were among an impressive group of Australian women who took part, including London 2012 silver medallist in canoe slalom, Jessica Fox and Beijing bronze medal diver Melissa Wuu.ddddddddddddAmong the Aussie men, basketballer Cameron Bairstow simply tweeted a picture with his arms spread wide and Rugby Sevens captain Ed Jenkins described it as an incredible experience.Memories for a lifetime, he said.The march of athletes came mid-way through the spectacular ceremony driven by a pulsating Samba beat, that invited the world to join the party.Low-tech in comparison to London and Beijing it no-less delighted the 50,000 strong crowd who swayed to its infectious vibe.A similar beat also backed another rowdy group of Australian athletes who had their own unofficial march earlier on Friday, taking to Ipanema Beach in their official uniforms where they attracted a crowd of appreciate locals.Weve just got a 15-minute window to come out and wear the uniform on opening ceremony night, road cyclist Rachel Neylan said.Rio are really putting on a show so far.Rower Will Lockwood said it was fantastic to get out and see some of the city.Its such a good vibe, just Rio turning it on along the beach, its been awesome, he said. 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