Industry News
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
IndustryNews Industry News Information to help you run your business supports the vital contributions coaches FLUSHING MEADOWS make to the success of the tour,” says WTA CEO and Chairman Steve Simon. “I’m excit- USTA National Tennis Center ed by the potential for the WTA’s partnership with PTR to see an increase in the number of To Host Fortnite Game Finals certified and licensed women tennis coaches worldwide.” 12th Annual TIA Forum Set for Aug. 26 in NYC The 12th Annual TIA Tennis Forum will be Monday, Aug. 26, at the Grand Hyatt New York, starting at 8:30 a.m. The Tennis Forum will include the latest news and research about the state of the tennis industry, business insights, updates on grow-the-game initiatives, and recognition of the 2019 Tennis Industry Hall of Fame inductees. This year’s Forum also will include an interactive “Discovery Challenge,” drawing out creative ideas to help address the issues of engagement and retention in tennis. Stay tuned for more information and registration at TennisIndustry.org/forum. TC’s ‘Strokes of Genius’ he USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York will be Nominated for Sports Emmys the venue for the inaugural Fortnite World Cup Finals, to be held July 26-28. Fortnite is an online video game developed by Epic Games. The event at the NTC will feature a $30 million prize pool, with the champion individual player taking home at least $3 million. The competition will include the top 100 solo players and top 50 duos teams. T Actual competition will take place in Arthur Ashe Stadium, but the surrounding grounds of the National Tennis Center will be “transformed into a Fortnite environ- ment,” according to a statement. “We look forward to playing a role in this cultural sensation, with the chance to showcase the National Tennis Center in an entirely new way,” says Danny Zausner, the COO of the USTA’s NTC. Tickets start at $50 for a three-day pass. Tennis Channel's first full-length feature film,Strokes of Genius, has been nominated WTA and PTR Sign Coach Program has been designed to pro- for two Sports Emmy Awards by the National Partnership Agreement fessionalize, standardize and recognize the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The The WTA and PTR signed an agreement important role of coaching on the WTA Tour. program is a finalist for the Outstanding designating PTR as an Official Partner of the Under the new agreement, WTA and PTR Long Sports Documentary and Outstand- WTA Coach Program. For several years, PTR will partner on community outreach and ing Musical Direction awards, which will be and WTA have worked together to facilitate educational projects, including certification announced at the 40th Annual Sports Emmy formal coaching pathways for tour-level through the WTA Tour Coach Program—with Awards ceremony in New York City May 20. players and their coaches. a particular focus on former WTA tour players. Additionally, network announcer Ian Eagle COURTESY USTA COURTESY Established in January 2017, the WTA “The WTA Coach Program highlights and was nominated for the Outstanding Sports www.tennisindustrymag.com June 2019 TennisIndustry 7 IndustryNews TennisIndustry PUBLISHER Personality–Play-by-Play award for his Tuesday. It also extends the event to fi ve JEFF WILLIAMS work with Tennis Channel, CBS Sports days, from four days in previous years. EDITOR and Turner Sports. The move to a fi ve-day event will allow for PETER FRANCESCONI Tennis Channel produced Strokes of greater scheduling fl exibility for the US Genius in conjunction with Amblin Televi- Open Qualifying Tournament, providing a MANAGING EDITOR SCOTT GRAMLING sion, creative-production company Rock greater window in case of weather issues. Paper Scissors and Wimbledon's All Eng- The US Open Qualifying Tournament CREATIVE DIRECTOR land Lawn Tennis Club. Author Jon Wert- features 128 men and 128 women IAN KNOWLES heim, whose 2009 book Strokes of Genius: attempting to win three matches to earn SENIOR EDITOR Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match berths into the main draw; in total,16 ED MGROGAN Ever Played inspired the fi lm, also co- men and 16 women will earn a spot in the ART DIRECTOR produced the documentary. Wertheim, 2019 US Open main draw. The US Open CRHISTIAN RODRIGUEZ the executive editor and senior writer for Qualifying event, which is free to the Sports Illustrated, regularly appears on public, is the fi fth biggest tournament in PRODUCTION EDITOR SAM CHASE Tennis Channel. The fi lm's musical score the U.S. Last year’s tournament awarded was written by award-winning composer more than $3 million in prize money. SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR Jeremy Turner. BOB PATTERSON Lininger Named Dunlop CONTRIBUTING EDITORS US Open Qualifying National Sales Manager CYNTHIA CANTRELL, PEG CONNOR, Extended to Five Days Jeff Lininger has been named National DAVID LASOTA, KENT OSWALD, CYNTHIA SHERMAN, MARY HELEN SPRECHER The 2019 US Open Qualifying Tour- Sales Manager for Dunlop. Based at Dunlop’s nament will begin on Monday, Aug. headquarters of Greenville, S.C., Lininger CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 19, and run through Friday, Aug. 23, will oversee Pro & Specialty Sales, including BOB KENAS, DAVID KENAS marking the fi rst time the tournament managing Dunlop’s territory managers. ASSOCIATE EDITOR will begin on a Monday, rather than Lininger, who has more than 30 years of TIM MARTHUR EDITORIAL DIRECTION 10TEN MEDIA TENNIS INDUSTRY 250 Park Avenue, Ste 825, NY NY 10017 646-381-8735 [email protected] ADVERTISING DIRECTOR JOHN HANNA 770-650-1102, x125 [email protected] APPAREL ADVERTISING CYNTHIA SHERMAN 203-558-5911 [email protected] Tennis Industry is published 10 times per year: monthly, January through August with combined issues in September/October and November/ December, by Tennis Media Company, 250 Park Avenue, Suite 825, New York NY 10017. Periodical postage paid in Duluth, GA and at additional mailing offi ces (USPS #004-354). June 2019, Volume 47, Number 6 © 2019 by Tennis Media Company. All rights reserved. Tennis Industry, TI and logo are trademarks of Tennis Media Company. Printed in the U.S.A. Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circulation and editorial: 646-381-8735. Yearly subscriptions $25 in the U.S., $40+ elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tennis Industry, 250 Park Avenue, Suite 825, New York NY 10017. Tennis Industry is the offi cial magazine of the USRSA, TIA and ASBA. Looking for back issues of Tennis Industry/Racquet Sports Industry? Visit the archives at our website at TennisIndustryMag.com for free digital versions. COURTESY DUNLOP COURTESY 8 TennisIndustry June 2019 www.tennisindustrymag.com IndustryNews industry experience, has been a territory EQUIPMENT manager for the Southeast region for Dunlop. He will report to Vice President Dunlop Promotion Sends Fans and General Manager Kai Nitsche. to ATP, Next Gen Finals Estabrook Named President of Fila North America Fila North America has appointed unlop’s new consumer pro- Jennifer Estabrook as its president. motion will send two sets of Estabrook succeeds Jon Epstein, who winners to the 2019 Nitto ATP passed away suddenly in February. D Finals in London, three sets of winners Estabrook, who was the company's to the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals in Chief Operating Offi cer, had most Milan, and 24,000 new ATP balls to recently been acting president of Fila tennis players across the country. North America. The promotion comes on the heels of The announcement followed news Dunlop’s new agreement as the official of record revenue, profi ts and stock ball of the ATP Tour. Tennis fans can price for parent company Fila Korea. In find special codes inside cans of Dun- 2018, revenue for Fila North America lop ATP Extra Duty, ATP Regular Duty, reached its highest level since Epstein ATP Championship Extra Duty or ATP assumed leadership in 2007. Championship Regular Duty balls, and “Jennifer has the industry savvy, enter them on play.dunlopsports.com. fi nancial and operational command, Fans can also enter online, without and passion for the brand to guide Fila a ball purchase, by visiting the same to its next stage,” says Fila Chairman website. The deadline to enter the Gene Yoon. contest is Aug. 31. iGENIE TM GET A FREE DEMO! The Official Ball Machine of the USPTA NEED DRILLS? Go to: playmatetennis.com (800) 776-6770 Half Page Ad-Rev4.indd 1 11/13/17 8:22 PM www.tennisindustrymag.com June 2019 TennisIndustry 9 IndustryNews Short Sets IHG Hotels & Resorts is the new its “Selkirk Growth Progam” and pledg- offi cial hotel and hotel loyalty partner ing to donate 1,000 pickleball paddles USPTA Pro Develops for the US Open. The multiyear agree- to schools, youth organizations, fi rst re- Cooling Device ment will begin with the 2019 US Open, sponders and charitable organizations. The new Chillimanjaro, developed by and includes sponsorship of the West- USPTA pro Dean Caccamo of North Caro- ern & Southern Open in Cincinnati, part French bank BNP Paribas will no lina, clips to the neckline of most shirts, of the US Open Series. longer be the title sponsor of the ITF’s keeping a player’s neck cool during play. Davis Cup. BNP Paribas, which has “I'm a fan of the ice towel to the back Australia will host France in the Fed sponsored the Davis Cup since 2001, of the neck, but you obviously can't play Cup Final Nov. 9-10. In a World Group will remain a partner of the ITF, with a with one, so I took that concept a step Playoff in April, the U.S. defeated Swit- focus on women’s and junior tennis.