Preparing for the US Open

image@tennis.isport.com

Consistently, we hear tell of under-funded stadiums closing, teams being transferred to more profitable states, and the “bankruptcy” word being thrown around the offices of team owners.

One sporting event consistently delivers in profit, sponsorship, prize money and city revenue. That event is the US Open.

But why? As New Yorkers, we put teams like the Yankees and the Knicks on a pedestal. If you asked a random person on the street which NY sport brought the most money into the city, I doubt very many would say tennis. Yet, it’s true. VERY true.

Year after year, the attendance at the Open tends to grow. It averages 98 percent capacity, around 700,000 attendees per tourney. Last year it battled an impending hurricane Irene and still managed to bring in 650,000 spectators, sell out 11 sessions, and set a record for a final match, (Novak vs. Nadal) with 24,713 people in Arthur Ashe Stadium, (meant to hold an average of 23,200).

Even during the height of the recession in 2009, the US Open actually continued to set records for ticket sales.

But don’t think those tickets represent the money coming in to the city. The ticket money goes to the United States Tennis Association and the organizers of the United States Open. The sponsored money is usually flipped over to prize money. It’s the hospitality costs that cause a great surge for NYC’s revenue.

Many of the Open’s attendees are coming from overseas specifically for the tournament, which lasts two weeks long during prime vacation time that coincides with Labor Day weekend. The average Open-goer has a median income of $150,000 according to the USTA, so it’s safe to say they aren’t always staying in a Comfort Inn. They fill the high end, luxury hotels in the the surrounding areas and tend to stake them out for the entirety of the tourney. The best hotels are often filled up months in advance.

Between the hotels, restaurants, rentals and everything in between, New York City makes an average profit of 250 million dollars off of the US Open. That number grows every year.  That’s a lot of green.

I kid, I kid. Who has that kinda change lying around?

Oh, right – The thousands of incoming travelers cashing in Euros like lottery tickets.

But, seriously – ticket prices for the most anticipated matches can be extremely intimidating to the more modest spender. You can easily get disheartened and tell yourself there is no chance you’ll get to see your favorite players in action.

Luckily, that’s not totally true. Yes, the Nadal or Sharapova matches might be out of your wallet’s league, but you just might be able to catch these 2012 favorites practicing on Sunday, August 26th.

Practice Day is a US Open standard and it’s TOTALLY FREE. The Tennis Center opens to the public at 11AM. Seated players spread out onto all of the courts, (except Arthur Ashe) to loosen up with their hitting partners. The hitting partners play a major roll, prepping their pro for the opponents to come by mimicking their styles. In many cases, watching these extremely intimate moments up close can be more thrilling than an actual match.

As long as you arrive at The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center early, (9AM is sufficient) you can get fantastic seats in the courts. It is never publicized in advance which player will be on which court, but if you are an all-around fan, you will undoubtedly be pleased by what you’re able to see.

It doesn’t stop there – Practice Day is universally regarded as the best opportunity for fans to actually meet the players, get autographs, snap a photo, etc.. Unlike Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day, which can be a bit of a mob scene, Practice Day is historically a much quieter day – The “hidden gem” of the Open, if ever there was one.

So if you, like me, are semi-broke or just don’t have what it takes for the big Slam seats, head over to Flushing on Sunday, August 26th for what could very well be a day to remember.