InsideOut Sports + Entertainment today announced an expanded and re-formatted Champions Series tennis circuit starting in 2011 with one-night events in 12 North American markets played this fall.
Each new Champions Series event will feature a field of four major champions competing in a one-night shootout tournament with two semifinal matches followed immediately by a championship match. Players will compete for ranking points and a prize money bonus pool for the top three finishers on the circuit. Information on venues, dates, player fields, sponsors, ticket information and television airings will be announced in the coming months.
The Champions Series is a New York-based tennis circuit for champion tennis players over the age of 30 run by InsideOut Sports + Entertainment, co-owned and operated by former SFX executive Jon Venison and former world No. 1 Jim Courier.
The new version of the Champions Series will be more impactful with one-night powerhouse events allowing a wider audience to experience this special brand of tennis, said Venison. “Players will be able to play in two or three markets over one weekend in the same amount of time they would spend in one city with the prior multi-day tournament format of the circuit. Additionally, with the condensed fall schedule, fans will be able to more easily follow the season from start to finish.”
Since its debut in 2005, the Champions Series has held 32 tournaments around the world featuring players such as Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Bjorn Borg, Marat Safin, Michael Chang, Patrick Rafter and Courier.
“The Champions Series is the perfect way for me to stay involved in the sport that has given me so much,” said Agassi. “Competing against my peers in this new format is going to be exciting and an ideal way to connect with the tennis fans who have long supported me and the sport all across North America.”
“With this new one-night tournament schedule fans will be certain to see four immensely popular players playing in every one of these events,” said Courier. “When you put this level of champions together in these type of tournaments with money and ranking points on the line, you know you’re going to see some fireworks.”
In addition to the newly re-formatted Champions Series circuit, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment will also continue to run International Champions Series events.
CHAMPIONS SERIES VIDEO FOOTAGE
The Champions Series video page features exclusive behind the scenes footage of events and candid player chats. Videos can be seen at http://www.championsseriestennis.com/video.php
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CHAMPIONS SERIES WEBSITE:
http://www.championsseriestennis.com/
InsideOut Sports + Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Champions Series, a collection of tournaments featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including “Legendary Night” exhibitions, charity events, corporate outings and tennis fantasy camps such as the annual “Ultimate Fantasy Camp”. Through 2009, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment events have raised over $4 million for charity.
For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.