When the second edition of the New York Open starts in NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum next month, it will be more than just a tennis tournament.
It’s not just the return of men’s touring tennis to the United States – a tour that has been orbiting the Earth since the close of the US Open – it’s also going to be a show.
American top players John Isner, Sam Querrey and Tennys Sandgren have teamed up with Merrick’s Noah Rubin, the Bryan Brothers in doubles and defending champion Kevin Anderson of South Africa, who later reached the final in Wimbledon final. In 2017 he also made the US Open Final.
To circle the tournament itself, entertainment options are meant for those who are not necessarily fans of the game, but in the middle of winter, looking for an interesting evening and discovering tennis, which is pretty cool.
“We have to turn Nassau Coliseum into an oasis where people escape the cold and get into the heat,” said tournament director Josh Ripple. “We have to generate this heat.”
Former American Grand Slam stars Andy Roddick and Jim Courier will play an exhibition game on the opening night on 9th February. Before that, they will be part of a culinary show with Chef David Burke, who has a restaurant and bar in the Garden City Hotel.
and other restaurants in Manhattan, New Jersey, Washington DC and St. Louis. The culinary event is a separate ticket, which also allows entry to the game.
During the week, the Wolf Pack Ninjas give demonstrations, clinics and meet-and-greets and talk to their young fans, who are likely to bring one or two parents. The Acrobatic Group, which promotes children’s health, offers several courses for obstacles.
“To make attractive to the consumer. If we try to survive on diehard tennis fans, we will not be doing business anymore, “said Ripple. “That’s why we have to make the tournament much more content-related than just having games on the pitch at 11am.”
In a sense, the New York Open strives to be a miniature version of the US Open, with a whole social earthquake coming from the epicenter of tennis. Food and entertainment are part of the enormous success.
“We believe with Burke that he’s going to create that kind of high-end foodie element, the people who are culinary guys say that’s cool,” Ripple said. “I will not just buy a hot dog and watch tennis.
I can have flamed bacon. Followers of David Burke, who have never known of the New York Open, will now hear about the New York Open, and those who have never considered buying a ticket will now consider it because of him. “
Then there’s the Wolfpack Ninja Tour, owned by the same company that owns the tournament.
“The integration of Wolf Pack Ninja into what we do is very similar,” said Ripple. “They will have plenty of children and their families who are fanatics and participate in these ninja courses, schools and camps. We own Wolf Pack Ninja.
We will have clinics and courses. If we’re able to sell 500 kids, maybe one or two parents who learn about Wolf Pack Ninja from the New York Open, that’s a lot of people. The strategy is to find these non-tennis types. “
Even the Coliseum itself can be a selling point. Last year, Ripple said he received great feedback from fans who had not been to the renovated arena before. They were impressed by the posh location, which was further enhanced by the return of the islanders.
In the last two decades, a lot of touring tennis has emigrated from the US to other parts of the world. The New York Open was the old Memphis Open, which was brought to New York to create a higher profile for a lower-class ATP event. It has to fight for players with two other ATP events in Europe and South America in the same week.
“I would dare to say that the press is gathering in other parts of the world, I’m sure New York is one of the events that they would remember in contrast to Rotterdam or elsewhere in South America,” Roddick said was in town last week to promote the tournament. “I think there is an advantage in the genome.”
Roddick is a big fan of a complete entertainment experience. “It’s refreshing for me, so I see someone who thinks outside the box and creates an all-encompassing event, as opposed to a rectangular, round hole based on the calendar,” Roddick said. “I welcome what you are doing and try to keep these events in the States.”
