CHARLOTTE – The Women’s Tennis Association will move its global headquarters to Charlotte, which also will host the WTA Finals from 2027 through 2029 with support from a $14.4 million state grant.
The N.C. Department of Commerce said the grant from the Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund will help the Charlotte Sports Foundation host the three-year event in partnership with the city of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and other community and business leaders.
The 2027 WTA Finals are scheduled for Nov. 10-14 at Spectrum Center. The season-ending championship will feature the world’s top eight singles players and top eight doubles teams. State officials said the event is expected to welcome 80,000 spectators, with practice courts, fan experiences and meeting space planned at the Charlotte Convention Center. Early projections estimate a regional economic impact in the tens of millions of dollars.
The headquarters commitment is a separate part of the announcement. WTA’s current corporate headquarters is in St. Petersburg, Florida. WSOC reported that the organization employs about 130 people, but the Charlotte headquarters location has not been finalized. The announcement did not specify how many positions will be based in Charlotte, how many employees will relocate or the organization’s capital investment.
Charlotte also is slated for a future WTA 500 tournament after 2029. Axios and WSOC reported that the event is contingent on construction of a dedicated tennis facility. Charlotte Sports Foundation officials said talks with the city and county are continuing, and no stadium site has been finalized.
The announcement establishes the headquarters relocation and the three-year Finals commitment. The headquarters is not yet operating in Charlotte, the 2027 championship remains a future event and the proposed WTA 500 tournament depends on a separate facility decision.