Arthur Ashe Stadium, located in Queens, New York, was completed in 1997 and serves as the main venue for the US Open Tennis Championships. As the largest tennis stadium in the world, it has become an iconic part of both the New York City skyline and the international tennis scene.
The original structural steel of the stadium was coated with a Tnemec epoxy-polyamide system, an earlier-generation protective coating that provided exceptional durability. The system lasted more than 20 years, requiring only minor touch-ups at connection points throughout its service life.
In the 1990s, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) partnered with ROSSETTI, the original architect and structural designer, to expand the facility and accommodate a larger audience. Decades later, in 2017, the stadium underwent another major upgrade with the addition of a retractable roof system to prevent weather-related delays and cancellations.
Though the new roof was constructed independently from the existing structure, the roof was designed to blend in with the arena. Covering approximately 236,600 square feet, the retractable roof is supported by eight steel columns placed strategically around the stadium’s perimeter.
The Need for a High-Performance Coating
To ensure durability and aesthetic consistency, the steel columns required a high-performance protective coating system. The USTA specified a distinctive blue to match the hue used throughout the stadium’s design and branding.
Tnemec proposed a three-coat fluoropolymer system applied over a urethane intermediate that would offer superior resistance to UV light. Because bright pigments such as blue tend to absorb UV radiation more readily, they are more susceptible to fading over time.
However, to reduce labor and time, a simpler two-coat system was selected that consisted of zinc primers and a single blue polyurethane topcoat with the expectation that it would still offer sufficient protection and aesthetic longevity.
The Right High-Performance Coating
Within a year of project completion, fading began to appear on the coated surfaces, prompting a review of the original system.
Despite the polyurethane’s intended UV resistance, the intense sunlight and weather exposure in New York caused noticeable color shifts and loss of gloss far sooner than anticipated.
Over the following six years, the once-vibrant dark blue finish degraded to a pale blue, almost white shade. Because Arthur Ashe Stadium is highly visible on both broadcast and in-person viewing, this discoloration significantly impacted the structure’s appearance and the USTA’s brand identity.
When a consulting engineer contacted Tnemec to evaluate options for repainting the steel columns, the company performed adhesion tests and analyzed the existing coating’s condition.
Rather than recommending a full three-step recoating process involving surface preparation, primer, and topcoat, Tnemec proposed a simplified, efficient two-step approach. This method involved pressure-washing the surface to remove contaminants, followed by applying a single coat of an advanced fluoropolymer finish directly over the existing polyurethane system.
LUMIFLON-based Coatings Add Long-Term Value
The replacement coating incorporated a fluoropolymer topcoat formulated with a new generation of UV-stable technology based on LUMIFLONÒ resins. This advanced resin provides exceptional weatherability, UV resistance, gloss retention, and long-term color stability—ideal for high-visibility architectural structures like Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Developed by AGC Chemicals, LUMIFLON is based on fluoroethylene vinyl ether (FEVE) chemistry, which combines the durability and chemical resistance of traditional fluoropolymers with the flexibility and strong adhesion characteristics of conventional coatings. Key performance benefits include:
- Superior UV protection and resistance to color fading
- Exceptional gloss and appearance retention
- Excellent corrosion and chemical resistance
- Extended service life, reducing maintenance frequency and lifecycle costs
By maintaining its vibrant, signature blue appearance, the LUMIFLON FEVE-based coating system ensures that Arthur Ashe Stadium continues to project a fresh, brand-consistent look for years to come.
During major events like the US Open that are broadcast globally and attended by thousands, the stadium once again reflects the energy, prestige and innovation associated with the sport of tennis and the USTA brand.
Click here for more information about LUMIFLON FEVE Resins.