So what are everybody's thoughts on the Open moving to a different city?

If so please come to St. Louis. We have plenty of courts to accommodate the tournament.

I'm a traditionalist, but i think it'd be a shame if it moved.

However, reality is Doug needs to move the tourney to where it can be successful and profitable. He needs major sponsors and he needs the draws to continue to be high. He needs a location that could draw people in and get them travel.

How about Las Vegas? The IRT Pro Nationals were there for years but the club closed. But, with the portable court they could set it up in a larger conference room or one of the arenas of one of the larger places and host the major events. Imagine if they signed a contract with MGM, had all the players and guests stay there with shuttle service to alternate sites and have the showcase events there.

Anyone reading from LV? What's the court situation at UNLV and health clubs there?

boss

Agreed. Regardless of where it is we need a major sponsor. I mean, I seriously didn't even notice until I just thought about it but there was no Tennis Channel coverage of the event. No announcers or any of that from previous years. They may have been behind the cameras I don't know.

Except for the locals, I'm sure folks would appreciate having the event staged closer to their homes. Of course, moving this huge event annually could be a logistical nightmare. Establishing a new permanent home would certainly be easier to repeat annually, once the teething pains are out of the way.
A northern site would certainly draw more Canadians to the event. I say northeast! {dance}

Well how does Minneapolis sound?

bfr7kq6

Anyone reading from LV? What's the court situation at UNLV and health clubs there?

boss

TimJr. Where are you???????????

I don't understand if a change of venue is the ticket to growth, but you pretty much have a central location in Memphis and access to courts.

otto8978

If so please come to St. Louis[, MO}. We have plenty of courts to accommodate the tournament.

That'd be cool. URL for the club? Pictures of the inside and courts?

Place handle the influx of folks (i.e. 600 players so 1000 people total?)

Airport handle it? http://www.flystl.com/flystl/airlines/

bfr7kq6

I'm a traditionalist, but i think it'd be a shame if it moved.

However, reality is Doug needs to move the tourney to where it can be successful and profitable. He needs major sponsors and he needs the draws to continue to be high. He needs a location that could draw people in and get them travel.

How about Las Vegas? The IRT Pro Nationals were there for years but the club closed. But, with the portable court they could set it up in a larger conference room or one of the arenas of one of the larger places and host the major events. Imagine if they signed a contract with MGM, had all the players and guests stay there with shuttle service to alternate sites and have the showcase events there.

Anyone reading from LV? What's the court situation at UNLV and health clubs there?

boss

I'm here in Vegas and there are quite a few places that have some courts which would help....but nothing like what the Univ of Memphis has out there (dont they have like 15 or 18 courts) plus they have the church w/ another 5 and then more. Mike Coulter out here has been doing tourneys for years & years & helps run the CPRT which had a good showing this year...i think Vegas is ideal for the US Open & would get a lot of potential publicity, just from what i heard that many of the gyms out here are a pain in the ass to hold tourneys at. But i think its a logical choice for sure.

ScottF200

That'd be cool. URL for the club? Pictures of the inside and courts?
Place handle the influx of folks (i.e. 600 players so 1000 people total?)
Airport handle it? http://www.flystl.com/flystl/airlines/

Hmm...only 10 courts.

http://www.vettasports.com/program.php?id=771

FACILITY FEATURES

Vetta Sports Concord's Racquetball Club is the Largest Racquetball Facility in St. Louis & the Midwest.
The 10 Court Complex Was Racquetball Magazine's 2007 "Club of the Year"

St. Louis would be an upgrade to Memphis? Not dissing St.L, just don't understand the advantages. Does anyone know the facts, versus conjecture, for the (potential) move?

tonyh

TimJr. Where are you???????????

I don't understand if a change of venue is the ticket to growth, but you pretty much have a central location in Memphis and access to courts.

Tim is still locked in the trunk of my car. :mrgreen:

Was this the last year for the current major sponsor?

Rumor is that there is a 50/50 chance it will stay in Memphis.

Other two locations continually being mentioned is Canton, OH and Minneapolis.

Should be one of these three options.

Manny

Plan on Minneapolis forget 50/50.

jurschel

Plan on Minneapolis forget 50/50.

What club? URL?

I have it from VERY GOOD authority that it will be Minneapolis. Lifetime Fitness. They have a large facility there and/or multiple clubs in the area.

Specific club wasn't mentioned. Now if somebody finds a corporate sponsor in Memphis it could all change. From what I was told it looks bleak at this point. I'm going to try and get the sponsorship presentation in front of somebody where I work who might be able to get it to somebody that matters. But from what Doug said after the finals their decision is supposed to happen in 2-3 weeks. Not much time to actually get something like that in front of a CEO or CMO.

Canton OH would be great ... for me anyway :)

veritas

Tim is still locked in the trunk of my car. :mrgreen:

Really!!!!!! Wow! Kind of ironic, Tim was the one always threatening the few with Jr-like violence and today he sleeps with the fishes in Veritas's trunk. I wonder how many on here remember the sentinal known as TimJr?
Well V make sure you walk by and whack your trunk with a plastic bat 10-20 times when it gets too quiet.