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WTA Finals moving to an NBA arena next year as tennis tour seeks 'Super Bowl for women’s sports'
The event will be condensed to five days and may use alternate formats as organizers seek a larger showcase for women’s tennis.
On Wednesday, the WTA and the Charlotte Sports Foundation announced the WTA Finals will move to the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, for a three-year run beginning in 2027.
The WTA opted out of its Saudi Arabia hosting arrangement early due to instability from U.S.-Iran conflict and waning interest from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, prompting the move to Indian Wells, California, this year.
WTA chair Valerie Camillo announced the organization will relocate its global headquarters from St. Petersburg, Florida, to Charlotte, stating the move allows the WTA to "control our own destiny" operationally and financially.
Because the Spectrum Center hosts the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, the Finals will condense from eight days to five, though organizers hope the move creates a premier "Super Bowl for women's sports."
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is investing $500 million into stadium renovations, and the WTA plans to bring a WTA 500 tournament to Charlotte after 2029, signaling broader sports growth.