6400 West 95th Street, Suite 102 Overland Park, KS 66212
Telephone 913-322-4800 Fax 913-322-4801 missourivalley.usta.com
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
July 6, 2010 Eli Gieryna, Communications Coordinator-Public Relations (913) 322-4827 or 1-888-368-8612 [email protected]
Kansas City Explorers Matches to Feature All-Ages Tennis Entertainment QuickStart mini-court and special giveaways for kids at every home match.
Kansas City – This summer, the United States Tennis Association Missouri Valley and the Kansas City Explorers will be teaming up to provide family entertainment with world-class professional tennis and exciting tennis activities for children.
Explorers matches at Barney Allis Plaza will feature a USTA QuickStart Tennis SportCourt™ for children to play on. QuickStart Tennis features a smaller court and foam balls for an easier, more engaging game for children. The court will be open to all children 12 and under before every home match. No prior experience is needed – instructors from Kansas City area tennis organizations will be on hand to assist and encourage beginner tennis players at no cost.
Kids attending Explorers home matches can also pick up a Kansas City Explorers coloring sheet to draw on. The sheet includes a list of area locations where kids can receive additional instruction and learn to play tennis themselves.
USTA Missouri Valley will also hand out player trading cards at each home Explorers match. Each night will feature a different card profiling a player or the head coach. Fans can collect all seven cards by attending each home match.
Anyone who joins USTA or renews their membership at an Explorers match will also receive a special book, “Let’s Play Tennis” from the USTA Missouri Valley. The easy-to-read book explains tennis equipment, rules, and fundamentals for parents and children who want to begin playing tennis.
Fans will be treated to two matches featuring the Bryan Brothers on July 15 and 16. The Bryan Brothers are currently the No. 2 doubles team in the world and are tied for the record of men’s doubles championships in history. Lindsay Davenport, former women’s world No. 1, will play at an Explorers home match as well when she plays with the St. Louis Aces on July 18.
Kansas City will also host the 35th World Team Tennis Finals on July 25. The top two teams from the regular season will face off at Barney Allis Plaza for the King Trophy, named for league co-founder Billy Jean King.
Tickets to Explorers home matches and any additional information can be found on the Explorers website at www.kcexplorers.com . For more information about the USTA Missouri Valley and QuickStart, please visit the section website at missourivalley.usta.com.
2010 Kansas City Explorers Home Schedule Thursday, July 8 – vs. Sacramento Capitals Sunday, July 18 – vs. St. Louis Aces (featuring Lindsay Saturday, July 10 – vs. Newport Beach Breakers Davenport) Thursday, July 15 – vs. Springfield Lasers (featuring Bryan Wednesday, July 21 – vs. Sacramento Capitals Brothers) Thursday, July 22 – vs. Philadelphia Freedoms Friday, July 16 – vs. Newport Beach Breakers (featuring Bryan Brothers)
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The United States Tennis Association Missouri Valley is a not-for-profit organization covering a five-state region of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and parts of Illinois. As one of the 17 Sections of the USTA, the USTA Missouri Valley has more than 23,000 individual members and more than 350 organizational members. The USTA Missouri Valley offers recreational and competitive tennis for all ages and abilities. The mission of the USTA is to “Promote and develop the growth of tennis.”