In 2009, the "secret" tennis courts at Grand Central Terminal were eliminated to make way for a new Metro-North conductors' lounge. However, there was enough room left over for another court and two practice courts, and these finally opened to the public this month as the The Vanderbilt Tennis Club. Here's a photo of the main court, which is the only one in New York City equipped with on-court, slow-motion video analysis!
Tomorrow we'll have a full photo tour of the club, which also features a fitness center. Grand Central history buffs will tell you that the court is located on the fourth floor of the Terminal in a space that used to house the CBS recording studio where “What's My Line?” and Edward R. Murrow's “See It Now” were filmed. More recently, U.S. Open players were practicing in the facility during the club’s opening week, but any amateur is welcome to come play—for a price.
Prices for the full court vary during the day from $90-$250, and you can also arrange for private lessons on the full court for $160-$195 per hour. Budget tennis players can take a lesson on the practice lane for $100 an hour, and that way you'll have money left over for $17 cocktails downstairs at the Campbell Apartment!
