It’s A Racquetball Celebration ...AND YOU’RE INVITED! Witness racquetball’s premier Party the nights away with your concessions and industry trade show, “Grand Slam”- the UnitedHealthcare favorite pros and racquetball fans International/VIP Reception, Pro-Am US OPEN Racquetball Championships. from throughout the world. Be there Doubles Tourney for Charity, Play See all of the top players in the world to see the stunning “made-for-TV” the Pro Challenge for Charity, Thurs- from the IRT, LPRT and CPRT compete portable stadium racquetball court. day night gathering at The Shout for the largest total prize money purse In addition, over 700 amateur House, Friday Night Racquetball in the sport. Experience the thrill of players will compete in age and Warehouse dance party at Huberts, dramatic player introductions featuring skill divisions for every level. and continuous fanfare on the sta- booming music and laser light shows. Special events include the Saturday dium court. Stroll through the UnitedHealthcare evening Gala “PARTY WITH THE US OPEN Player Village and see PROS”, (21 & over), a Players The main location and nerve center what’s new from the world’s top Village complete with for the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN racquetball manufacturers. will be located in downtown Minneapolis at the fabulous LIFE TIME FITNESS Target Center, the same building in which the Rocky Carson Minnesota Timberwolves play. All pro matches and many of the amateur matches will take place at this facility, located in the center of the exciting Entertainment Dis- trict in Minneapolis. Restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, and world class shopping are located all around the club. Just four blocks away is the second LIFE TIME location that will be utilized, the Minneapolis LIFE TIME Athletic Club. Lastly, a short eight-minute complimentary shuttle ride to the third location – LIFE TIME FITNESS St. Louis Park, will complete the rotation. (a 4th overflow location will be used if needed) All photos taken by: Alfredo Ramirez (restrungmag.com) and Ken Fife MADE-FOR-TV PORTABLE STADIUM RACQUETBALL COURT One of the most exciting aspects of the Huberts, which will feature a DJ spinning the hottest UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Racquetball tunes for your dancing pleasure. Saturday evening will Championships is that the stunning “made-for- top off the party calendar with the gala racquetball TV” portable racquetball court will be used for bash of the year – the 19th Annual UnitedHealthcare all feature matches! The unique construction of US OPEN “PARTY WITH THE PROS” (21 & over only) the court allows stadium seating for more than at the red hot POURHOUSE nightclub in downtown 1,200, in addition to courtside luxury boxes for Minneapolis. More than 600 racquetball fans and sponsors and VIPs. Dramatic player introductions guests are expected to turn out for an evening of complete with laser light shows and booming exciting entertainment, wonderful desserts, and live music will treat racquetball fans to a total entertainment. The cost for guests and tournament entertainment experience. The crystal clear spectators is $15 per person. Players participating in acrylic walls will make you feel like you are in the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN will be admitted free! the court with the players! PARTIES, PARTIES UnitedHealthcare US OPEN PLAYERS VILLAGE AND MORE PARTIES The nerve center of the event will be the That’s right! For those of us who like to enjoy our UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Players Village. Many evenings, the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN promises activities are scheduled to take place in the Village a solid week of non-stop fun, kicking off with a including an extensive Industry Trade Show, pro Thursday night International/VIP Reception and autograph signing sessions, concessions, and cash bar. then Thursday late-night “get together” at The Shout Admission is free for all spectators and players. House Dueling Piano Bar (located right next door to the club). And that’s only the beginning! On Friday evening, the action moves to Minneapolis’ own PRO MATCH SCHEDULE CHECK-IN IRT & LPRT Pro Qualifying Wednesday 10 am - 11pm All player registration will take place at the downtown LIFE Pro/Am Doubles for Charity Wednesday 6 pm - 10 pm IRT Round of 32 Thursday 9 am - 1 pm TIME FITNESS Target Center club (main host club). Check-in LPRT Round of 32 Thursday 1 pm - 6 pm is required prior to participating in the event. Hours for IRT Round of 16 Thursday 3 pm - 10 pm registration are: Tuesday, October 7th 3 p.m.- 10 p.m., LPRT Round of 16 Friday 9 am - 1 pm Wednesday, October 8th 8 a.m.- 10p.m., Thursday, October IRTQuarters Friday 2 pm - 8 pm 9th 8 a.m.- 9 p.m., and Friday, October 10th 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. LPRT Quarters Friday 5 pm - 8 pm LPRT Semi’s/IRT Semi’s Saturday 11 am - 5 pm Finals-CPRT/LPRT/IRT Sunday 9am - 2 pm SKILL LEVEL CERTIFICATION Skill-level entrants (A, B, C, D divisions) must be certified at that level by the state director or country representative as MEMBERSHIP being legitimately competitive in the entered skill division at Players must be members of USA Racquetball. If you’re a level five event. Tournament Directors will use these not, one can be purchased at the event. In addition, all benchmarks to determine eligibility for skill competition and players entering the pro draws must be members of the IRT/ reserve the right to re-classify or disqualify players when/if LPRT Players Association or join at the event ($20-IRT/$10- they are improperly placed. NOTE: Players in Age+Skill must LPRT). meet the same criteria. PLAY BEGINS/STARTING TIMES/ TICKETS FOR PRO MATCHES CONFIRMATION/ENTRY DEADLINE Everyone will be required to purchase tickets for pro matches Players must be prepared to play as early as 8 a.m. on — see ticket application or call (800) 234-5396 ext.0 All the dates indicated in the chart below. Requests for special non-players must purchase a ticket to be admitted to the starting times must be indicated on the entry form. Every Saturday evening “PARTY WITH THE PROS” (21 & over). effort will be made to accommodate special requests, Seating is limited, therefore it is strongly recommended that however no guarantees can be made. Starting times will you purchase tickets in advance. ABSOLUTELY NO VIEWING be available after 5 p.m. on Monday, October 6th FOR PRO MATCHES WILL BE PERMITTED WITHOUT A on-line at www.UnitedHealthcareUSOPEN.com After 5pm TICKET. Last year’s ticket packages sold out three weeks in on 10/6, any event questions can be directed to the on-site advance, so don’t delay! tournament office by calling (719) 499-9561. Entries and ticket orders can be confirmed online after September 24th at www.UnitedHealthcareUSOPEN.com Please immediately call the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN A very limited number of four-person courtside luxury boxes headquarters at (800) 234-5396 ext. 0 if any errors (with 5-star catered GOLD Lounge access) may be available. or omissions are found. All entries must be received by Cost is $2,800/box or $800 for single seat. Wednesday, Sept. 24th and/or postmarked by Friday Call 614-890-6073 for availability. Sept. 19th. OPENING ROUNDS SCHEDULE SILENT AUCTION & PRO/AM DOUBLES CHALLENGE Wednesday Oct. 8th For the benefit of St. Jude and JDRF, a silent auction will be Singles – All IRT/LPRT Pro Qualifying, Men’s Open, Elite, A, B, C, D, held during the event featuring Olympic Memorabilia and 24 & under, 24 & under A-B-C, 25+, 25+ A-B-C, 30+, 35+, sporting goods equipment from the industry’s best manufacturers. Checks, cash, VISA and MasterCard are 35+A-B-C, 40+(CPRT), 45+, 45+A-B-C, 55+A-B-C. welcome. In addition, Wednesday evening, October 8th, Doubles – Men’s Open, Elite, A, B, C, 35+, 45+, All Men’s Centurion 32 lucky amateurs will have the opportunity to play in a Thursday Oct. 9th single elimination (one game to 15) doubles challenge with a top professional player as their partner. All proceeds will Singles – Men’s 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 65+A, 65+B/C, 70+, 75+, 80+ be donated to St. Jude and JDRF, and each amateur player Women’s Elite, A, B, C, D, 24 & under, 24 & under A-B-C, 25+, 25+A-B-C, 30+, will receive an autographed racquet from their pro partner. Spots are limited; call (614) 890-6073 if you are interested in 35+, 35+A-B-C, 40+, 45+, 45+A-B-C., Women’s 50+, 55+, 55+A-B-C, 60+, 65+ participating. Pro/Am Doubles for Charity – $325 donation. Doubles – Men’s 19+, 55+ All Women’s, all Mixed (NOTE: Your matches for any other divisions you enter will Friday Oct. 10th not be scheduled Wednesday evening so you can participate Singles – Women’s 70+, 75+, 80+ in this special event) UnitedHealthcare The US OPEN is thrilled to have UnitedHealthcare as our HOSPITALITY Title sponsor. UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping Hospitality (continental breakfast and lunch) for all players people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the will be available at LIFE TIME FITNESS St. Louis Park only. health care experience, meeting consumer health and LIFE TIME FITNESS Target Center (main club) will offer a wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with cash bar and concessions throughout all hours of the event. health care providers. UnitedHealthcare serves more In addition, many restaurants are located right next door to than 38 million people and is one of the businesses of the club in the downtown Minneapolis Entertainment District. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.