WTA Tour Finals moves to Charlotte, N.C., as women’s tennis takes full control of flagship event
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The WTA Tour Finals, the premier event in women's tennis, will be hosted in Charlotte, North Carolina, for three years starting in 2027, with the WTA taking over operational ownership of the tournament.
- This move follows the end of the hosting deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation, which will not be renewed after 2026 due to regional conflict concerns and poor event promotion and attendance in Riyadh.
- Charlotte offers an established sports infrastructure, a strong tennis fan base, a favorable timezone for key markets, and will host the event at the Spectrum Center, home of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.
- The WTA will manage the event's revenues and expenses directly, signaling a strategic shift away from licensing deals, with prize money for the first Charlotte edition expected to be around $10 million, less than the Riyadh event.
- The WTA will relocate its global headquarters to Charlotte and plans to help bring a WTA 500 tournament to the city after 2029, establishing a long-term partnership.
