The International Tennis Hall of Fame is gearing up for a major transformation, unveiling plans for a $3 million renovation designed to elevate the museum experience and celebrate the upcoming induction of legendary players like Roger Federer and Serena Williams. This ambitious project will double the museum’s exhibit space, bringing in new displays and a modernized plaque gallery.
The most noticeable change will be a new display for the inductees. The traditional wall plaques will be replaced with a line of markers, each featuring a golden tennis racket that mirrors the Hall’s logo. This unique design element will serve as a symbolic representation of the prestigious honor bestowed upon inductees. “It truly represents the prestige that that honor is for those inductees, for both players and contributors,” said Reese Stevens, a key figure in the design process. “The golden-cast rackets are going to be the new manifestation of what it means to be a Hall of Famer.”
The gallery itself will be relocated from the beginning to the end of the tour, leading visitors through the historical building and its unique grass courts. A new retail store will also be added at the end of the exhibits. The changes are designed to create a more cohesive and enjoyable visitor experience.
“We want to be very respectful of the fact that this is a historic building, and we know that,” said Mindy Ward, another member of the design team. “Part of our challenge — and one that we embraced with gusto — was making sure that what we were developing, while fresh and new and modern, blended seamlessly with some of the historic displays in the historic art and architecture that we didn’t want to just get rid of.”
This is the first major upgrade to the Hall since 2015, with the plaque gallery last receiving an update in 2008. The renovation is expected to draw more visitors, with the Hall aiming to double its current annual attendance of 30,000. Additionally, plans are in place to make the exhibits more accessible online, reaching a wider audience beyond those who can visit in person.
The renovation is set to begin in November and is scheduled for completion by next May. Players are eligible for induction five years after their last significant year on the ATP or WTA tours. This means Federer and Williams are eligible in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
“The golden era of tennis is perhaps retiring, but it’s upon us,” said Hall vice president Julianna Barbieri. “Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Venus Williams are going to become Hall of Famers, and it was time for us to take what was in the current gallery and modernize that, modernize that to the present day, modernize that for the evolution of the sport and make that fit more within who and what the game has evolved to from 2008.”
The Hall is also preparing for changes beyond the renovations. The Hall of Fame Open, a tournament that has been held alongside the induction ceremonies for almost 50 years, lost its spot on the ATP calendar after this season. This has prompted the organization to plan new events.
“You know the phrase, ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life?’” said Hall president Patrick McEnroe. “Next year is the first year of the rest of our life. And, it’s going to be awesome.”
