By Justin Cohen @JustinCohen44
Wimbledon television ratings a hit
Andy Murray’s historic Wimbledon title this past Sunday was a ratings success. BBC figures show that viewership got as high as 17.3 million, which amounted to a 79.6 percent share of the overall UK television audience. It was the highest television ratings for Wimbledon since 1990. Last year’s championship match which saw Roger Federer edge out Murray for his 7th title at SW19 peaked at 16.9 million viewers. Further, ESPN’s Darren Rovell said that roughly only 7 percent of the UK’s population was alive the last time a British male won the Gentlemen’s Singles Title at Wimbledon (1936). ESPN’s coverage of the Gentlemen’s Championship recorded the second-largest audience in network history with roughly 2.5 million viewers. However, Sunday’s audience was well short of the 2012 title match when 3.9 million viewers tuned in. On Sunday, 1.3 million viewers tuned in to witness Marion Bartoli’s victory over Sabine Lisicki for the Ladies’ Championship as well as the Gentlemen’s Doubles Championship, in which American twins Bob and Mike Bryan won their 15th Grand Slam Doubles crown.
Roddick signs clothing endorsement deal with TravisMathew
Following several years of wearing Lacoste while competing on the ATP World Tour, the recently retired American Andy Roddick has signed a clothing deal with TravisMathew, a Southern California-based outfitter that has made its reputation in the golf world. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The company also announced that the former World No. 1 and 2003 US Open Champion has been named an investor with the company. Roddick’s good friend and fellow ATP player James Blake has been wearing the clothing line since June 2012.
Anderson signs multi-year deal with Unique Sports
World No. 22 Kevin Anderson, a former standout at the University of Illinois, has signed a multi-year deal with Unique Sports to endorse Tourna Grip. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Kevin joins other top pro’s endorsing Tourna Grip like David Ferrer, Richard Gasquet, John Isner, Sam Querrey, and the Bryan Brothers.
Fila extends official apparel and footwear partnership with International Tennis Hall of Fame
Fila, a longtime leading brand in the tennis industry, has signed a multi-year sponsorship as the Official Apparel and Footwear Supplier of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. Fila has been involved as a key partner of the International Tennis Hall of Fame for many years. The renewed partnership represents the most comprehensive relationship to date, featuring activation across the Hall of Fame’s multiple platforms, including the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour event taking place this week; the Rolex Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend; and The Legends Ball, an annual gala event hosted in New York City during the US Open. The partnership also includes having Fila’s tennis line available for sale in the Hall of Fame Tennis Club Pro Shop and retail stores year-round. Additionally, Fila is an important partner of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, where numerous iconic Fila tennis apparel pieces are showcased among the museum collection. “Fila is one of the all-time great brands of our sport. Fila and the Hall of Fame are very much in sync with our goals and missions. Fila has been part of so many great moments of tennis history, and like the Hall of Fame, remains committed to playing an active role in growth of the sport today. We are very pleased to continue our relationship with Fila and look forward to building on the partnership together,” said CEO Mark L. Stenning. “Tennis is an integral part of the Fila brand, and we are thrilled to extend our partnership with the International Tennis Hall of Fame, an organization that celebrates the sport like no other. It is important to Fila to honor the heritage and history of tennis, and to remain active in today’s game, and our partnership with the Hall of Fame offers a unique opportunity to achieve both of those goals,” said Gene Yoon, CEO of Global Fila. “We look forward to further developing our successful relationship in the years ahead.” Fila’s sponsorship will be highly visible at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships this week and at the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony festivities on July 13. Now in its 37th year, the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships is the only ATP World Tour event in the Northeast and the only pro event played on grass courts in North or South America.
Tennis Hall of Fame to host Billie Jean King for Re-Premiere of Battle of the Sexes
This Sunday, July 14 at 8 p.m. ET, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, R.I., will host Billie Jean King for the re-premiere of the Battle of the Sexes in honor of the 40th anniversary of her historic match. The star-studded event will take place following the completion of the ATP Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour 250 event played on the historic grass courts at the Hall of Fame. Tickets for the screening are available now for $30 per person. A limited number of VIP tickets including a pre-screening reception with Billie Jean King are available for $200 per person. The event will be the final event of the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s annual Enshrinement Weekend, when the Hall of Fame Class of 2013 will be honored. Tickets may be ordered online at tennisfame.com or HallofFameTennisChampionships.com, or by phone at (401) 849-6053.
Tennis Hall of Fame earns top honors from American Alliance of Museums
The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, R.I. has achieved accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), which is the highest professional achievement in the museum industry. AAM Accreditation indicates that the accredited museum is operating at the highest level of museum professional standards and that it demonstrates a commitment to excellence in all that it does: governance, collections stewardship, public programs, financial stability, and continued institutional improvement. Of the nation’s estimated 17,500 museums, just over 1,000 are accredited, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is the first sports hall of fame to receive the honor. It is the second sports museum (American Museum of Fly Fishing) and the second hall of fame (Country Music Hall of Fame) to achieve this distinction.
