By Liz Kobak
@LizTennis
US Open More Profitable Than Super Bowl
Between illustrious players like Serena Williams, generous spending fans, sponsors and highly anticipated building projects, the 2013 US Open is expected to gross $720 Million.
That number is far higher than what the 2014 Super Bowl – the most-watched sporting event –will likely generate.
“The market audience comes with the sport, but the high-end sponsors come with the event’s length and visibility over the two-week period and the opportunity to entertain guests,” said Harvard Business School Business of Sports Professor Emeritus Stephen Greyser.
From spring 2014 to 2018, two new stadiums and a roof covering Arthur Ashe Stadium will be constructed and thus likely further economic growth.
Prince Back in Action Following Financial Scare
Prince is redefining itself and releasing new products 15 months after the American tennis brand went bankrupt.
Company employees attributed Prince’s economic failure to reduced consumer spending, heightened competition and overall economic depression. Company assets were $54 million against $78 million in debt.
“It’s been a long road over the past year. I think it all started by going back to basics,” said Prince Global Sports CEO Mike Ballardie, appointed to his post earlier this year. “Prince is the authentic American tennis company. We went back to our roots.”
Prince is promoting its new products both on and off the court in New York City. Its tennis gear is on display in Midtown Manhattan throughout the US Open. The world’s No. 1 ranked doubles team of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan wear only Prince. The legendary tennis twins are vying for their first calendar Grand Slam, which was last captured in 1951.
US Open Promotes Local Queens Businesses
The United States Tennis Associated (USTA) members have installed a front gate kiosk where local businesses are promoted. But this installation was not a revelation.
The US Open hosts more than 700,000 people annually, many of whom are from out of town and are unfamiliar with Queens. The tournament was criticized for not promoting local businesses enough to the thousands of fans who attend daily.
“As a result of the public hearings … the USTA is bending over backwards to be a great neighbor and to promote local businesses,” said Queens Chamber Executive Director Jack Friedman.
Included at this kiosk are Queens maps, brochures and hundreds of restaurant listings.
Tennis Channel Introduces US Open Coverage Apps
Tennis Channel and distribution partners Verizon FiOS TV and the National Cable Television Cooperative, Inc. (NCTC) recently unveiled the network’s first TV Everywhere applications.
Verizon FiOS TV and NCTC subscribers can access complimentary streaming on their phones, tablets and computers.
“For the first time in history, fans now have 24-hour, mobile access to the only television network that covers 85 percent of an entire sport, and every one of tennis’ top 100 tournaments, including all four majors,” said Tennis Channel’s Distribution Senior Vice President Patrick Wilson. “When we launched our Tennis Channel Everywhere app this spring we made clear that we wanted to work with our distribution partners to bring an authenticated linear stream to their subscribers as soon as possible. Thanks to Verizon FiOS TV and NCTC, today we’ve taken those first steps, and we look forward to working with others.”
Apple’s Tennis Channel Everywhere mobile app is downloadable here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id651092377?mt=8 and Android’s at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tennischannel.tceverywhere.
IBM, USTA Serve Fans Second Screen Experience
IBM (NYSE: IBM) and United States Tennis Association (USTA) recently announced that they are serving 2013 US Open tennis fans enhanced analytics, mobile and social technologies.This feature simultaneously engages spectators more with on-court action while handing them real-time match data insights that scores superficially cannot reveal.
“As the US Open continues to grow and reach tennis enthusiasts around the world, our fans are clamoring for access to more and more content, as well as deeper insights that allow them to join social conversations about the tournament,” said USTA Director of Digital Strategy and Partnership Nicole Jeter West. “Having a partner like IBM for over 20 years enables us to have great confidence the USOpen.org technology infrastructure and to feel like we have the best resources in place to meet our fans’ demands.
Through IBM software and services providing continual digital experiences, US Open enthusiasts are analytically empowered and appreciate tennis on another level regardless of where they are watching matches from.
For more information about how IBM is helping the US Open deliver an immersive second screen experience to fans, visit www.ibm.com/sports.
Doubles Prize Money at 2013 US Open Nearly Doubles
The 2013 US Open is offering $4.684 Million to doubles teams out of $32.2 Million in total tournament prize money, 40 percent more for doubles players than in 2012.
Should they win their calendar Grand Slam and claim this year’s US Open, the Bryan Brothers earn $460,000 ($230,000 to each brother) and a place in history as arguably one of the best doubles teams of all time.
Chase, USTA Restore Devastated NYC Tennis Courts
When Hurricane Sandy swept through Staten Island, it destroyed local children’s favorite tennis courts at Wolfe’s Pond Park.
Nearly one year after that devastation, Chase along with the USTA and City Parks Foundation revamped all Park courts, making them more playable than they ever were.
“This is important,” said 9-year-old tennis player Andrew. “This was destroyed and now we renewed it with the Chase company.”
Chase representatives are thrilled about their accomplishment.
“It’s been an amazing morning to have the kids out here, healthy and active and smiling,” said Chase Global Philanthropy Senior Associate Nubia Murray. “That’s what we wanted to do most. And we’re really excited about it.”
