GaryMrMets
09-05-2005, 01:12 PM
Tennis-Open-Taming the US Open and making it more fan friendly
By Larry Fine
NEW YORK, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The taming of the asphalt jungle that is home to the U.S. Open tennis championships has taken a leap forward.
Planting 32,486 flowers and shrubs, installing shooting water fountains and pledging to make the season's last grand slam "fan friendly," organizers have dipped into a $50 million tax-free city bond for their continuing makeover of the heavily blacktopped Flushing Meadows park.
Even the color scheme has changed to improve the view at the National Tennis Center, a facility former South African star Kevin Curren once suggested should be blown up for being noisy and ugly compared to the leafy Forest Hills home the tournament eventually outgrew.
The U.S. Open has gone "blue," with all courts on the sprawling grounds changed to blue from green to make it easier for spectators and TV viewers to see the points. There is also a huge blue, manual scoreboard affixed to Louis Armstrong Stadium displaying the full singles and doubles draws.
Fans are now allowed to keep tennis balls that careen into the stands, borrowing a tradition from baseball, and center court winners autograph three balls after their victories and swat them into the crowd for souvenirs.
FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE
The aim by the U.S. Tennis Association is to create more of a festive atmosphere and the moves seem largely on target with Open fans.
Canine corps search and rescue dog Apollo and his partner David Sanabria even did their part. The German shepherd looked pleased holding a green tennis ball in his mouth and posing for pictures with fans by Court 12.
Dr Susan Heittler from Denver, a sports psychologist, said she appreciated the chamber music played by a classical trio. She also liked the personal touch given by straw-hatted USTA 'ambassadors' who greet arriving spectators and bid them good night at the end of play.
"You leave feeling a sense of friendliness," said Heittler.
The USTA is put in a friendly mood by the support of the fans, who pay separately for the day and night sessions and number more than 625,000 during the fortnight, bringing in revenues estimated at $190 million.
Other capital improvements include the Court of Champions, a series of bronze plaques saluting past Open winners opposite the Unisphere, a large steel globe that is one of the lone remaining symbols of the 1964 World's Fair held on these grounds.
Electronic scoreboards dot the campus reporting scores of matches and fans can sign up for radios receiving TV broadcast commentary.
About the only discouraging words come from some fans unhappy with the selection at the food plaza, although there is a large variety of things to eat including hamburgers, barbecue, pizza, crepes, Mexican, falafel, Indian and even a Kosher cart offering "overstuffed" Pastrami sandwiches.
09/05/05 01:55 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
By Larry Fine
NEW YORK, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The taming of the asphalt jungle that is home to the U.S. Open tennis championships has taken a leap forward.
Planting 32,486 flowers and shrubs, installing shooting water fountains and pledging to make the season's last grand slam "fan friendly," organizers have dipped into a $50 million tax-free city bond for their continuing makeover of the heavily blacktopped Flushing Meadows park.
Even the color scheme has changed to improve the view at the National Tennis Center, a facility former South African star Kevin Curren once suggested should be blown up for being noisy and ugly compared to the leafy Forest Hills home the tournament eventually outgrew.
The U.S. Open has gone "blue," with all courts on the sprawling grounds changed to blue from green to make it easier for spectators and TV viewers to see the points. There is also a huge blue, manual scoreboard affixed to Louis Armstrong Stadium displaying the full singles and doubles draws.
Fans are now allowed to keep tennis balls that careen into the stands, borrowing a tradition from baseball, and center court winners autograph three balls after their victories and swat them into the crowd for souvenirs.
FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE
The aim by the U.S. Tennis Association is to create more of a festive atmosphere and the moves seem largely on target with Open fans.
Canine corps search and rescue dog Apollo and his partner David Sanabria even did their part. The German shepherd looked pleased holding a green tennis ball in his mouth and posing for pictures with fans by Court 12.
Dr Susan Heittler from Denver, a sports psychologist, said she appreciated the chamber music played by a classical trio. She also liked the personal touch given by straw-hatted USTA 'ambassadors' who greet arriving spectators and bid them good night at the end of play.
"You leave feeling a sense of friendliness," said Heittler.
The USTA is put in a friendly mood by the support of the fans, who pay separately for the day and night sessions and number more than 625,000 during the fortnight, bringing in revenues estimated at $190 million.
Other capital improvements include the Court of Champions, a series of bronze plaques saluting past Open winners opposite the Unisphere, a large steel globe that is one of the lone remaining symbols of the 1964 World's Fair held on these grounds.
Electronic scoreboards dot the campus reporting scores of matches and fans can sign up for radios receiving TV broadcast commentary.
About the only discouraging words come from some fans unhappy with the selection at the food plaza, although there is a large variety of things to eat including hamburgers, barbecue, pizza, crepes, Mexican, falafel, Indian and even a Kosher cart offering "overstuffed" Pastrami sandwiches.
09/05/05 01:55 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.