The WTA's year-end championships are moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, starting in 2027, it was announced Wednesday, with the tour's headquarters also relocating there from St. Petersburg, Florida.
The WTA Finals will be held at the Spectrum Center, home of the NBA's Hornets, from 2027 to 2029. With a capacity of approximately 19,000, the arena has hosted a tennis exhibition event the past two seasons.
Wednesday's reveal ends several years of turmoil and inconsistency around the event and its location. In July, the WTA announced that the year-end tournament would be moving from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- despite one year remaining on its initial agreement -- to Indian Wells, California, for 2026.
The WTA said it underwent a "competitive global process" to determine its next host. In a call with reporters Tuesday, WTA chairperson Valerie Camillo acknowledged recent reports about the organization's troubled financial state and said the decision to leave Riyadh early had proved costly and played a role in determining the next host. The Telegraph reported last week that the WTA is poised to reach $23 million in operational losses this season and would have only $15 million on hand by year's end.
"2026 is a year of transition for the WTA," Camillo said. "We are doing the normal belt tightening you would expect of any business while also absorbing the unexpected cost of relocating the WTA Finals to Indian Wells. What's most important to know is that we have a clear path to deliver consistent sustainable financial performance in 2027 and beyond supported by strong revenue and audience growth."