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 $460,000. This is not the first time the family has sued the USTA, as they previously reached a settlement agreement in 1998. However, the USTA's recent actions have left the Hester family feeling betrayed and disappointed.
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 claims that the USTA began to charge them an annual fee of $45,000 and offered seats in a corner with blocked sightlines. This led to a lawsuit and a 1998 settlement agreement that provided better seats, bus and restaurant passes, and continued lifetime rights to attend the US Open.
Despite the settlement, the USTA has continued to undermine the agreement and freeze the Hesters out. The price tag for their seats has soared to $215,416 in 2025, and their box has been eliminated in the $800 million renovation of the tennis center. The USTA then offered the family inferior seats at a price tag of $460,000, which would jump to $560,000 by 2030. The family claims that this is a deliberate attempt to diminish Slew Hester's legacy.
Adding to the family's grievances, Slew Hester's memorial plaque has been removed, and no explanation has been given for its disappearance. The USTA's actions have left the Hester family feeling betrayed and disappointed, and they are determined to fight for their rights and Slew Hester's legacy.
In my opinion, the USTA's treatment of the Hester family is a clear case of betrayal and a disregard for the legacy of a man who played a pivotal role in the creation of the National Tennis Center. It is a reminder that even the most prestigious organizations can be ungrateful and self-serving. The family's fight for justice and recognition is a testament to the enduring impact of Slew Hester's contributions to the world of tennis.
