CHARLOTTE, N.C. (NCN News) – Charlotte is going big on women’s tennis, with the Queen City hosting major events and becoming the new home of the Women’s Tennis Association.
Charlotte will host the 2027, 2028, and 2029 Women’s Tennis Association Finals with the support of a $14.4 million grant from North Carolina’s Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund (MEGA).
Offered by the N.C. Department of Commerce, the grant will assist the Charlotte Sports Foundation, in partnership with the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and other community and business leaders, in hosting the three-year event. In addition to hosting the WTA Finals, Charlotte will be the home of WTA’s global headquarters, and a future WTA 500 event after 2029.
“North Carolina is proud to welcome the WTA headquarters and the WTA Finals to Charlotte,” said Governor Josh Stein in a press release. “This premier international organization and event will bring visitors to our state, support local businesses, and give North Carolina an opportunity to showcase all that we have to offer to a global audience. I appreciate the
Charlotte Sports Foundation and our local partners for their work to bring this event to our state. The WTA is game, the plans are set, and it’s going to be a perfect match.”
The 2027 WTA Finals are scheduled for November 10-14 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte and will bring together the top eight singles players and the top eight doubles teams in the world, reinforcing North Carolina’s growing presence on the national and international stage as a site for athletic events.
The tournament will bring world-class women’s tennis to Charlotte while providing opportunities for North Carolina residents to participate in events and activities surrounding the competition. In addition to championship play that will welcome 80,000 spectators, practice courts, fan experiences, and meeting spaces are planned at the Charlotte Convention Center. Early projections of WTA’s annual season-ending championship estimate an economic impact of tens of millions of dollars on the region.
“Bringing the Women’s Tennis Association Finals to Charlotte is a significant win for North Carolina,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Hosting an event of this caliber reflects the strength of our state’s sports and tourism industries and our ability to compete for major events.”
“The WTA Finals represents everything that makes women’s tennis extraordinary: the world’s best athletes, competing at the highest level, on a stage worthy of what they have accomplished,” said Valerie Camillo, Chair of the WTA. “Women’s tennis has spent generations helping push women’s sports forward, and we have an opportunity now to lead again by building a championship experience that reflects just how far women’s sport has come and where it is going next. In Charlotte, we found more than a host city. We found partners who share that ambition and a place where we can build a true home for the Finals and for the WTA.”
This year, North Carolina welcomed eight major events from golf to motorsports to pickleball, with Charlotte hosting the World Cup Soccer Send-Off Game and the Major League Soccer All-Star Game this summer, through partnerships with the N.C. Department of Commerce.
Through the MEGA Fund, North Carolina invests in its ability to compete for major sporting, entertainment, and cultural events. The fund helps communities pursue events that bring new attention to their destinations and contribute to the state’s broader economic development and tourism goals. To date, the MEGA Fund has awarded $39.8 million in grants to support events across the state.