The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced a partnership with the Charlotte Sports Foundation to host the WTA Finals at Spectrum Center from 2027 to 2029. This season-ending event features the top eight ranked singles players and doubles teams. In addition, the WTA will move its global headquarters from St. Petersburg, Florida, to Charlotte over the next year, with the specific location yet to be determined.
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WTA Chair Valerie Camillo expressed ambitions to create a significant annual event for women’s sports, indicating that this partnership and a three-year timeline provides an opportunity to enhance the finals year after year. A press conference at Spectrum Center is scheduled, with appearances from North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and other local leaders. This development follows extensive negotiations involving various regional stakeholders and culminated in Charlotte's winning bid over competitors like Gdansk, Sacramento, and Las Vegas.
Local leaders have long sought professional tennis events in Charlotte, including a failed attempt to relocate the Cincinnati Open. Will Pitts, CEO of the Charlotte Sports Foundation, described the WTA Finals as a transformative opportunity to solidify the city’s presence in professional tennis.
The Spectrum Center will serve as the venue while adjacent facilities, including practice courts and a fan festival, will be established in the Charlotte Convention Center. Camillo highlighted plans to create a vibrant atmosphere throughout the city during the event.
This move includes a reduction in the finals' duration from eight to five days to better accommodate the venue’s primary tenant, the Charlotte Hornets. Financial details of the partnership have not been fully disclosed, but support is confirmed from local government and business entities. Camillo noted that the WTA will take direct control of the event, which marks a shift from their previous operational model.
Aside from brief occurrences in Indian Wells and Fort Worth, this will be the WTA Finals' first multi-year run in the U.S. since 2002-2005 in Los Angeles. The tournament has faced instability, having been moved multiple times due to various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical issues.
Camillo addressed concerns about the WTA's financial situation, emphasizing a commitment to achieving sustainable growth and solid performance by 2027. She indicated the possibility of extending the partnership beyond its initial three-year term and mentioned ongoing discussions about the potential construction of a dedicated venue for future WTA 500 tournaments, which could cost around $50 million. However, no public funding proposal has been formalized yet.