What the US Open Can Teach Us About the Value of Natural Gas
The US Open brings the biggest stars in tennis to New York, competing for the title of Champion. On the iconic grounds of USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, spectators are immersed in an experience unlike any other. Fans can move between matches, gather around practice courts and line up for concessions featuring New York City’s most iconic food. Whether you are watching a first-round match or a late-night thriller in Arthur Ashe stadium, every detail works together to create a memorable event. And those details are fueled by none other than natural gas.
It is a massive operation to welcome thousands of fans, athletes, broadcasters, vendors and staff to this iconic venue every year. To keep everything running smoothly, the venue depends on a complex network of infrastructure and essential services. At the National Tennis Center, natural gas is used for building heating, hot water systems for locker room showers and the kitchen for precise cooking temperatures for concessions. That reliability helps to make sure the two-week tournament runs smoothly and can remind customers of the role that natural gas plays in their everyday lives.
On a daily basis, natural gas heats our homes, provides hot water and supports the businesses and institutions we rely on. Households that use natural gas for heating, cooking and clothes drying save an average of $1,030 per year. Just like the operations teams working around the clock throughout the US Open, natural gas utilities focus on delivering so that customers can focus on what matters most. More than 189 million Americans and 5.8 million businesses use natural gas because it’s affordable, reliable and safe. So, whether you are watching the US Open from your couch after cooking snacks on your natural gas stove or in the stadium with your New York style hot dog right off the grill, natural gas has your back.
Tennis players spend years training for the moments fans see on the court. Similarly, natural gas utilities invest approximately $37 billion each year to enhance the safety of natural gas distribution and transmission systems. Much of the work often goes unnoticed, but it’s those safety precautions that help ensure communications and make sure that they have access to the energy that they need.
As you gear up to watch your favorite players continue to the next round, take a moment to consider everything happening beyond the baselines. From athletes competing on the courts to the infrastructure supporting the venue, great performances are fueled by those working in the background. The best experiences, at a Grand Slam tournament or in our daily lives, are often made possible by the use of natural gas.