QUEENS — The historic Forest Hills Stadium will get greener this year.
Concert organizers recently redesigned the area, owned by the West Side Tennis Club, adding a new grass-covered concourse in front of the open-air venue, they said Monday.
In the past, the area was instead covered with layers of plastic during shows in order to protect tennis courts located there.
The design update "will breathe new life into the venue and its grounds" and "open up the flow," the organizers said in a statement.
They also said that they've added five new “hidden” private VIP lounges inside the venue, in addition to four that had already been there, including one where concert goes enter through a fake port-a-potty.
Each lounge will have a secret entry point and will feature its "own special decor and superb views of the stage,” the organizers said.
This season, the stadium will also partner with WFUV which will broadcast select shows live on the air, beginning with a season kick-off performance from The xx on May 19.
The organizers also announced Monday that indie rock band The National will play Forest Hills on Oct. 6, in addition to other acts already announced in recent weeks, including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Sigur Rós, Jack Johnson, John Mellencamp, The Chainsmokers as well as Daryl Hall & John Oates with Tears for Fears.
The venue, which used to host the U.S. Open and held numerous concerts in the 1970s, including performances by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix, underwent a multimilion dollar overhaul in 2014.
Organizers have been since upgrading the venue, originally built in 1923, with improvements such as new bathrooms and sound reduction system installed to address complaints received from a group of local residents.
Among the artists who played at the stadium in recent years were Mumford & Sons, Bob Dylan, The Who and Paul Simon.
“I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to do here in Forest Hills,” said Mike Luba of Madison House Presents, one of the concert promoters.
“This was a group effort from the beginning," Luba added. "From the West Side Tennis Club and the Forest Hills community who did everything they could to save this historic gem, to the musicians and performers who saw this stadium for what it could be, to the fans that have spread the word about this special place."
The organizers also said earlier this year that they are working on a deal to create a winter wonderland at the stadium featuring an ice skating rink.
Additional shows slated for this season will be announced soon, they said.
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