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Stanley St centre court slowly taking shape to reflect ASB Classic on-court quality

November 28, 2019

With a star-studded line up confirmed for the women's ASB Classic, the venue is slowly but surely taking shape.

With a star-studded line up confirmed for the women's draw of the ASB Classic, the venue is slowly taking shape to reflect the on-court quality.

The rebuild of the infamous concrete Yock Stand is now complete and more improvements are on the cards.

Centre court at Stanley Street has a storied history, having hosted some of the game's legends.

"Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, it's a pretty incredible honour roll," Tournament director Karl Budge told 1 NEWS.

While the quality of the field gets stronger every year the tired surrounds of the ASB Classic have been crying out for a revamp.

Built in the 1950s, the Yock Stand's overseen the switch from grass to hard courts, but the infamous grandstand was only torn down last summer.

After months of construction and $10.5 million, which includes planning for future development, it's back in business and ready for summer.

"It's nice to actually have some seats sitting over there, it's been a while since we've had something you can genuinely sit on that's not 45 degrees hot. It'll hopefully be a more comfortable viewing experience,” Budge said.

More comfortable, but the tournament can't afford to rest on its laurels, a roof also much needed, not only for players, but spectators contending with Auckland's unpredictable weather.

"If you look at our competitors across the Tasman, every one of the ATP Cup venues will have a roof so that is a bench mark and if we want to continue to punch the way we are, we're going to have to keep up with those modern times too," Budge said.

               

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