Charlotte Leads Race To Host 2027 WTA Finals, Promises Tennis Boom

Charlotte has climbed to the top as the front-runner to host the WTA Finals in 2027. The Queen City squares off against just one other finalist — Gdansk, Poland — in the battle for the year-end championship that crowns the best women's tennis player on the planet. Organizers project the tournament will pump more than $24 million into the local economy.

Only the top eight players in the world compete in the WTA Finals. Decision-makers should announce their pick by the end of April, with the official reveal coming before the French Open tips off in late May.

This tournament stands as women's tennis' signature showcase. Saudi Arabia hosts the event now. That contract expires after this year's competition.

Charlotte has spent two years constructing its tennis credentials, bringing in marquee names through the Charlotte Invitational. The newly renovated Spectrum Center would serve as the main venue if the city's proposal wins.

"We've been doing the work and making the relationships," said Charlotte City Council Member Malcolm Graham, according to WCNC. "And tennis is a relationship type of sport, right? And it's a small group of promoters and owners of these tournaments. And by showcasing Charlotte through the whole bid situation, it helped."

If Charlotte wins, the contract should span multiple years and run through 2029. This would cement the Queen City as the home of women's tennis' biggest stage for years.

Calvin Davis, who coaches tennis at Charlotte Country Day, thinks landing the event would spark growth for the next wave of players. "This is the mecca of the end-of-the-season tennis," Davis said.

"This will be an enthusiastic moment for up-and-coming amateur players who are looking to go to college, who are looking to play professionally," Davis said. "It will enhance our park and rec programs. It will enhance our country club-type programs. It will just explode this game for all of us right here in Charlotte."

Graham says Charlotte's recent work on the national sports stage has helped build the connections required to land a tournament of this magnitude. City leaders say the Queen City possesses the infrastructure, track record, and momentum needed to secure women's tennis' most prestigious year-end event.