Cathedrals of Consumption

This is Nidhi

During the summer, I had the privilege of attending a tennis match at the U.S. Open. This was the first time in my life that I was actually able to attend a sporting event. To my surprise, the experience was more pleasurable than I had expected.

Photo courtesy of UniqNYC

As I entered USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, I was astounded by the massive stadiums and overall architectural aspects of the entire athletic complex.  The tennis center is home to about 22 tennis courts alone and is adorned with hundreds of bronze statues. As I walked into the complex, I was amazed the by the grandeur of the complex. The famous Arthur Ashe Stadium stood about 50 yards from the entrance stood so high into the sky as if it was a skyscraper. Water fountains were scattered about the complex and elaborate greenery made the arena seem more like a park than just a place to watch tennis. 

While walking around the complex, I got lost several times. The numerous courts were surrounded by huge bushes that made you feel like you were in a maze. At the end of each so-called exit, vendors selling all kinds of U.S. Open memorabilia greeted my friend and me. The were balloon animals and face painting available for children, and even a Ralph Lauren clothing store available for shoppers. The types of food available were ranged from several world cuisines and I felt like I was at a fair or an amusement part.

At the end of the day, after eating overpriced pizza and paying roughly $4 for an Evian bottle, I must admit that my experience was pleasurable. I enjoyed walking around the complex and watching my favorite athletes battle it out in the tennis court. I even heard one child exclaim, “Mom, this is just like Disneyworld,” and I realized that there was some truth behind her statement. As a visitor, I did feel rather safe in the complex and while spending the day there; I was so consumed in all of the activities the arena had to offer. I did not have a care in the world at that moment and could just think about what the next fun thing I might discover at the complex. The tennis center is an example of a cathedral of consumption because it seems that more visitors come to the complex to see the grandeur of the stadiums and to purchase overpriced U.S. Open drawstring bags. The complex is not geared to just make spectators watch athletes play in a prestigious tournaments, but to entice individuals to consume more and more goods.