INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME UNVEILS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR MUSEUM RENOVATION PROJECT
The International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) announced today a multimillion dollar museum transformation project on the historic property in Newport, RI. The renovations will provide fans with a more interactive and modern experience which preserves and promotes the sport’s history. The Hall of Fame will also introduce new features and physical spaces to celebrate legends and support the sport’s growth.
The ITHF announced in a press conference that Advent, a Nashville-based experiential design firm, was selected to lead the renovations, after a highly competitive nationwide RFP process.
“We are very honored to accomplish this for the Hall of Fame,” said Dan Faber, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. “We want to preserve the incredible history of tennis that is already out there, but also prepare for the global attention that's coming to Newport. The timing is perfect, especially with the upcoming tennis inductions over the next five years or so.”
“It’s a privilege to be entrusted with a story like this,” said Reese Stevens, Director of Conceptual Design, Advent. “It has been great for Advent to be included in this and we still have a ways to go but very much looking forward to the grand reopening in May 2025.
This will be the first museum renovation the Hall of Fame has undertaken since 2015; work includes:
A new Hall of Famers’ Gallery: the current USTA Wing will become the new Hall of Famers’ Gallery, with each Hall of Famer represented by a new cast racquet that signifies their legendary place in tennis history;
The Celebration Gallery, a space celebrating the sport of tennis through the stories of its legends, across generations. The area includes a new Augmented Reality Sculpture to engage fans of all ages;
The Roger Federer Hologram will be a new immersive experience presented by Rolex;
The creation of a Newport Tennis Traditions gallery, celebrating Newport’s tennis origins and a new display for the perpetual US Open trophies;
The opening of a Hall of Famers’ Lounge, an event space designed for inductees and guests;
The opening of a new Museum Retail footprint with bespoke, commemorative items;
A reimagined Welcome Center and new visitor exit, allowing for better guest flow
Beginning with the Class of 2025 Induction, all Hall of Famers past-and-future will receive a cast racquet as a symbol of receiving the ultimate honor in tennis. Racquets will be on display in the new Hall of Famers’ Gallery. Further, as the Hall of Fame works to preserve tennis history as it happens, these renovations will enable a wider variety of recent acquisitions from current stars and Hall of Famers to be on display simultaneously.
The press conference was held in the USTA Wing of the ITHF Museum with Dan Faber, ITHF CEO; Patrick McEnroe, ITHF President and Julianna Barbieri, ITHF SVP of Content & Partnerships joined by project principals from Advent, Reese Stevens, Director of Conceptual Design and Mindy Ward, Director of Client Success.
Renovations will begin in November, with the museum closed to the public until planned reopening in May 2025. The renovation is being funded by a portion of the Tennis Forever Capital Campaign, which began in 2018.
