Thursday, November 20, 2008
BUSINESS NEWS
Editor's Note: We are on our Monday, Thursday publication schedule for November and December.
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Wimbledon and British LTA Make Historic Agreement
Just as Wimbledon has seen the need to move with the times, bringing in equal prize money last year and now putting the final touches to the retractable roof that will cover Centre Court in times of inclement weather next June and July, the All England Club and the LTA have chosen to rewrite their long standing agreement that has always seen the surplus of profits from the Championships pumped back into British tennis.
The money, given to the LTA because of an agreement dating back nearly a century and amended in 1922 to state 'that the surplus from The Championships would be shared between the All England Club and the LTA after paying the running expenses of the Club and deducting a preferential sum towards the redemption of Debentures' is supposed to be used for the improvement of British tennis.
This week both parties announced that £25,667,000 (($US 38,410,800 according to Wednesday's exchange rate), a £600,000 increase on last year's figure and precisely £25,663,219 more than was banked in 1913.
However on August 1, 2013 , assuming everything is passed through committee stage, the All England Club will acquire from the LTA its 50% share of All England Lawn Tennis Ground, the company that owns the Wimbledon site and its facilities, amounting to £55 million in capital to be paid in agreed increments and invested in the sport's infrastructure. For its part, the All England will then become sole owner of the venue in SW19, in return for which 90% of the annual surplus from the championships will be guaranteed to the LTA every year until 2053.
Complicated stuff but the upshot is British tennis, not short of financial backing but horrendously weak in terms of strength in depth on the playing front for the last 30 years, is set for another cash windfall.
And those involved are more than happy. Tim Phillips, chairman of the All England Club said: "I see this as only good for British tennis and good for the Championships, because a division means we will be able to concentrate on delivering the best event we can and the LTA can concentrate on propagating tennis throughout the country.
"Our central task is to maintain the championships as the premier tennis event in the world, with facilities to match, and we can continue that by securing 10 per cent of the surplus, which helps fund our long-term plans."
Similarly satisfied is Stuart Smith, whose three-year term as LTA president expires next month, said: "The long-term stability of this agreement provides a foundation for us to continue in our efforts to boost income from other sources, necessary to grow the sport, increase success and build facilities across the country."
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ATP Loses A Candidate for Top Job
Soccer's gain looks likely to be tennis loss as Andy Anson, one of the most creditable in-house ATP candidates to succeed Etienne de Villiers as executive president, is about to be named chief executive of England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup.
Anson is well respected in the soccer world after a successful spell as Commercial Director of Manchester United, one of the most marketable sporting concerns in the world.
The 44 year-old is a former Disney Corporation employee, having spent three and a half years working in Los Angeles before joining Manchester United. Many were surprised when he left the current UEFA Champions League title holders two years ago after setting up the British record sponsorship deal with US financial services giant AIG.
As the ATP's ceo of Europe he has been largely based in Monte Carlo and insiders viewed him as a sensible successor to De Villiers both for his professional acumen and the simple fact he was a European with the player power base of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic holding sway.
However the presence of David Gill, currently Manchester United's chief executive on the FA 2018 board, saw Anson as the perfect candidate once Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry turned the job down.
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Pro Charity Events Attract Non-Tennis Sponsors
By Liza Horan
The key to success in business, as in life, is developing emotional connections with other people, says crack consultant Keith Ferrazzi, who travels the talk circuit advocating the idea that treating clients like friends can win deals.
Surely that helps, but tennis charity event organizers have better advice: Make more of your personal relationships business.
That's how The Baltimore Sun became and has remained a sponsor of the 23-year-old PNC Tennis Classic [TennisChallenge.org], founded by Baltimore native Pam Shriver.
"It started with a personal relationship, and they've always put us at the forefront. As this event has grown, they've grown with us," says Marc Kantrowitz of Friday night's exhibition match between Elena Dementieva and Serena Williams at 1st Mariner Arena. The event has raised more than $4 million for local charities over the years based on community support for the local heroine.
And how did financial services company Raymond James come to sponsor the Dec. 6 pro-am at Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club in Largo, Fla.?
CEO Tom James is a longtime member, tennis supporter and "personal friend" of club tennis director Maria Cercone. "He loves junior tennis, supports team events and is an avid player," says Cercone, who also serves on the board of the Florida Tennis Foundation. "I taught his kids tennis. They've got kids of their own now."
The Dec. 6 pro-am—featuring current stars John Isner and Jesse Levine, plus ESPN commentator and former pro MaliVai Washington and USTA Elite Player Development coach Jay Berger—benefits the Climb for Cancer Foundation and Florida Tennis Foundation (FTF). Cercone, an FTF board member, was able to coordinate the timing of the event with USTA Florida annual meeting to increase attendance.
Raymond James also sponsored the Chris Evert pro-celebrity event earlier this month in Delray Beach, Fla. [ChrisEvert.org]. Her event attracts stars from the sport and beyond, including such participants as former President George H.W. Bush and musician Gavin Rossdale. Since 1999 the event has raised more than $16.8 million for drug abuse treatment and abused children.
Interestingly, tennis charity events have the ability to pull in sponsors that larger tournaments do not: The local angle offers great visibility within a specific distinct and familiar market; companies want to support the community; and the personal access to decision-makers is unrivaled.
Pulling in local sponsors has helped the annual Swingtime pro-celebrity/pro-am raise money for the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation [CHEvents.com]. While JetBlue and Nike are among the dozen or so sponsors of this weekend's event, the fancy Saturday night party--attracting Mardy Fish, Sebastian Grosjean, and Xavier Malisse along with other celebrities—will be presented by another sponsor: The Law Offices of Andy M. Custer, which serves Palm Beach County.
Tennis sponsorships on the televised pro circuit may be endangered in this economy, leaving local charity events in a precarious position. "It's a really tough economy out there," says Kantrowitz, noting that a couple of sponsors have dropped out this year.
There is good news: Business leaders interviewed for the 2008 IBM Global CEO Study said they will increase philanthropic spending 25 percent over the next three years.
That finding is a reflection of consumers' growing interest in socially-minded products, services and suppliers, and means that there will be more funding available for charity-related endeavors.
The challenge will be finding out which of your friends is a tennis-minded ceo. Perhaps a conversation in the locker room can lead to a decision in the board room.
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Jankovic, Ivanovic and Williams Sisters to Play in New York in March
Four of the world’s top women tennis players, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic will face off in a one-night only single elimination event Monday, March 2 at Madison Square Garden.
Limited front row VIP tickets priced at $1,000.00 and additional tickets listed at $325.00, $175.00, $125.00, $75.00, and $50.00 are now on sale.
The $1.2 million “BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup”, the featured component of the national “Tennis Night in America” promotion, is produced by StarGames in association with Madison Square Garden. The event will benefit the Dream Vaccines Foundation and Women's Sports Foundation.
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Roddick Hires Stefanki as Coach
By Charles Bricker
Larry Stefanki, who has coached three No. 1 ranked players and who has just completed a three-year deal with Fernando Gonzalez, will be hired by Andy Roddick for 2009.
Stefanki, 51, of La Quinta, Calif., is one of the most highly regarded as well as one of the most gregarious coaches in the United States. He has previously coached No. 1s John McEnroe, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marcelo Rios, and had coached Britain's Tim Henman's in his final years on tour.
For Roddick, it will be his seventh professional coach. In order: Tarik Benhabiles, Dean Goldfine, Brad Gilbert, brother John Roddick, Jimmy Connors and Patrick McEnroe, the U.S. Davis Cup captain who helped Roddick through this year.
It hasn't been a great year for Gonzalez, who started the year at No. 7 and is now at No. 15, but with Stefanki he reached a career best of No. 5 in 2007 after Stefanki redesigned his game, moving him from a big-hitting, short-point player to someone who could blend his massive forehand ground stroking with patience and stamina.
Gonzalez had his greatest success under Stefanki, reaching the final of the 2007 Australian Open.
In Stefanki, Roddick is getting one of the best coaches in tennis. Quick-witted and highly intelligent, he was educated and played, as did his two brothers, at the University of California in Berkeley. He also has a deliciously droll sense of humor, which he enjoys visiting upon reporters. There seems little doubt about his adaptability to different personalities. In Kafelnikov and Rios he worked with two of tennis' moodiest characters.
While it's difficult to predict how or if Stefanki will alter Roddick's basic game, his challenge with Roddick might not be too different than his work with Gonzalez. Stefanki favors tactics over brute power, but he also knows how to incorporate the two.
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Federer Has One More Exhibition Date in Macao Then Relax for a While
The Roger Federer-Bjorn Borg roadshow moves onto Macao for a final date as the Swiss prepares to finally end his tennis campaign for a week or two before getting back to off-season training in Dubai.
Federer, James Blake, Borg and John McEnroe entertained fans in Kuala Lumpur with a brief exhibition with Federer's weak back unable to prevent him from beating Blake in a one-set exho in the Malaysian capital.
Borg and McEnroe also met in an "old boys" match followed by a concluding set of doubles from the Europeans versus the Americans.
Federer insisted that he's not concerned as Masters Cup champion Novak Djokovic climbed to within ten points of his own No. 2 status.
"I can still sleep well because he is not going to pass me anytime soon," said former No. 1.
"Honestly, to be ranked two, three, four, five, 25, it doesn't really matter a whole lot. It's either No. 1 or being in the main draw," added Federer who said in Shanghai that the idea of hearing himself introduced as No. 2 does not sit well in his mind.
"I'm glad we are at the end of the season and I will take it easy for a few weeks." The Macao night will follow the same format as the date in Malaysia.
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Bryan Twins Had Their Best Year Ever
By Charles Bricker
Despite his sons not finishing No. 1 in ATP doubles for the first time since 2004, Wayne Bryan is calling this season "the best ever" for his twins after they led the tour with 64 wins and finished runner-up at the Masters Cup with Bob Bryan less than 100 percent with a shoulder injury.
The injury still needs rest and the Bryans, who appeared in eight off-season celebrity charity events in 2007, will thus cut back to four this year.
They've returned to the family home in Camarillo, Calif., for the Thanksgiving holiday, but will be back in Florida for a Dec. 6 Cystic Fibrosis benefit on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Fort Lauderdale and, a day later, at Andy Roddick's annual benefit event in Boca Raton on Sunday.
They're also playing an exhibition in Atlanta on Dec. 13 and later in the month in Maui before beginning the 2009 season at Chennai, India, and Sydney, before the Australian Open.
"They were disappointed to take second at the Masters Cup, but, all in all, with their intense schedule this year and almost no time off with the Olympics and Davis Cup, it was their best year," said Wayne Bryan.
The twins reached 12 finals, tied with Masters Cup winner Nenad Zimonjic and Daniel Nestor with 5 titles and won the U.S. Open for their sixth Grand Slam championship.
With 49 doubles titles with each other, they need eight to tie John McEnroe/Peter Fleming and Bob Hewitt/Frew McMillen for second place and 13 to surpass Mark Woodforde/Todd Woodbridge.
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March Event in New York to be More Than Just a Tennis Exhibition
By Charles Bricker
The blockbuster exhibition to be played at Madison Square Garden next March with the Williams sisters, Ana Ivanovic and current No. 1 Jelena Jankovic is going to be more than merely an on-court event.
Promoters are planning to make the evening of Monday, March 2 Tennis Night in America by pumping the HBO TV feed of the matches, at no cost, into as many as a thousand public and private tennis and recreation clubs, and using the nationwide connection with fans to celebrate tennis and bring more children into the game.
After the financial success of the Pete Sampras-Roger Federer exhibition at Madison Square Garden last March, said promoter Jerry Solomon, "We decided to come back with something very different. We felt it was important to not just do an event that stood on its own but integrated itself into the world of tennis.
"We're inviting everyone in the tennis community to be part of something that would be a really big deal for tennis -- the concept of Tennis Night in America. This one night each year we would draw attention to the sport at all levels. Just stop the clock and have all players celebrate the sport.
"We're focusing on marrying pro tennis, grassroots tennis, the promotion of kids playing tennis and just the celebration of people playing the game," Solomon said.
The four-woman tournament, competing for the Billie Jean King Cup, is being supported by a joint venture of the Tennis Channel, HBO, the USTA and Madison Square Garden.
It was Kurt Kamperman, chief executive of community tennis for the USTA, who devised the idea of broadening the event by signing up young people to get involved in the game.
Clubs across the U.S. can contact Kamperman at the USTA if interested in bringing the HBO feed to their facility and turning the Madison Square Garden tournament into a sort of tennis tailgating party.
"We think this special night has so many elements to attract new players and bring back players to the game," Kamperman said. "And the first Monday in March is such an ideal date. That's when most park and recreation programs are signing up players for spring and summer programs."
In addition to all that, there will be a contest to find "America's best tennis town." Nominations will be collected by the USTA and the winner announced during the 2009 U.S. Open, in September. "Five months after this event, some town is going to get a check for $100,000 for growing tennis," said Kamperman.
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Tennis Channel’s Founder Launches Ski Channel
Steve Bellamy, chairman and ceo of The Ski Channel announced that the network will launch on December 25th, Christmas Day, to over 15 Million digital US households. The network has additionally signed multi-year distribution agreements with DIRECTV and Verizon FiOS TV.
This is the same Bellamy who launched the Tennis Channel in 2003. He left Tennis Channel two years ago, and moved into a new sport with significant success.
The Ski Channel www.theskichannel.com is an original ad supported network delivered via VOD, web, wireless, and other distribution. It is the only national television network devoted to the wide variety of year-round mountain activities such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, backpacking, climbing, etc., along with many off-slope activities. The Ski Channel’s content will inspire and inform its audience with magazine shows, movies, events, news, weather, and programs that focus on destination travel, equipment, instruction and real estate.
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Celebrity Pro Am Held This Week End
Tennis people are becoming quite active and giving back to the sport that has brought them fame and fortune.
This week end has scheduled the 10th annual Swingtime -- A Pro-Celebrity Pro-Am Tennis & Golf Tournament -- Benefiting the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation, Swingtime’s Tennis Pro-Am, Exhibition and Dinner Gala will take place at The Players Club & Spa at Lely Resort with the Golf Pro-Am Tournament returning to Olde Cypress, Naples, Florida on November 22-23, 2008.
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ATP Masters Cup Prize Money Payout
Novak Djokovic left Shanghai last week with the biggest paycheck; $1,240,000. Pay for the other participants were;
Nikolay Davydenko
$615,000
Andy Murray
400,000
Gilles Simon
300,000
Roger Federer
200,000
Jo-Wilfred Tsonga
200,000
Juan Martin Del Potro
200,000
Radek Stepanek
75,000
Andy Roddick
50,000
Doubles Team payouts were;
Nestor-Zimonjic
$220,000
Bryan-Bryan
105,000
Cuevas-Horna
80,000
Fystenbert-Matrowski
80,000
Bhupathi-Knowles
65,000
Coetzee-Moodie
65,000
Bjorkman-Ullyett
65,000
Dlouhy-Paes
50,000
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Carole Graebner Passes Away
Carole Graebner, top tennis player in the 1960s, passed away earlier this week. After leaving the tour she became an active volunteer for the USTA serving as Fed Cup Chairman for a number of years. Recently, she was a vice president of Tennis Week where she was in charge of advertising sales.
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We Hear—
--that Tennis News will announce on Monday its 2008 Tennis Person of the Year.
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THIS WEEK
MEN
Davis Cup Finals in Argentina
WOMEN
Nothing
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Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Wednesday’s Stock Prices
Stock
Last
Change
Adidas
13.65
-.65
Amer Sports
4.05
0.00
Head
2.10
0.00
K-Swiss
11.41
-.73
Nike
43.84
-2.78
Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $75.05
* The index is based on the total value of one share of each stock we report daily.
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