Under the Bubble: A Court Surface Built for the Next 50 Years

Members play the courts at The West Side Tennis Club in every season, through summer heat and winter freeze alike.

This year, the surface under the big bubble got an upgrade.

Crews tore out the old surface and replaced it with post-tension concrete, a system built to resist cracking under year-round wear. The new surface carries a 50-year warranty.

The project came with a significant investment, showing how important these courts are to member life.

More Hours to Play

Once the bubble goes up, the courts underneath stay temperature-regulated. Snow, wind, and single-digit temperatures don't change how you show up to play.

The one real difference is atmosphere. Sound carries a little louder under the bubble, and light comes from fixtures overhead instead of the sun.

Courts under the bubble stay open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., two hours later than the outdoor season allows. The same benefit is moving outdoors, too.

New lights on Courts 27 through 30 keep those courts available until 10 p.m., and the small bubble is next in line for its own lighting upgrade.

Booking That Matches How You Play

Some members want the same court at the same time every week all winter, while others want the freedom to book only when their schedule allows. The West Side accommodates either approach.

A Bubble Contract locks in your day and time for the full 26-week season, October 19 through April 18, in 90-minute or two-hour blocks.

A Play Pass suits members who play often but don't want a fixed weekly slot. It covers up to 90 minutes a day for one season-long fee, with booking available a week in advance.

For everyone else, open court time stays available up to three days ahead at the standard hourly rate.

Winter Without Pause

Keeping courts open through winter also keeps the rest of club life running. A weeknight match under the bubble can still end with a drink at the bar instead of a straight drive home.

Winter programming keeps going too, from junior clinics to team play, so kids stay on the courts while parents stay in the building.

Year-round access is what makes The West Side feel like a club members can count on in every season. This year's dining room and bar refresh adds to that, giving members a reason to linger after a match instead of heading straight out the door.

Winter at The West Side Tennis Club now runs the way the rest of the year does, with courts full.