Tennis Briefs(3): State of Industry Forum; Bradenton Down Syndrome Event; Vero Wild Cards

Tennis Industry to Gather in Miami for 2016 State of the Industry Forum

The tennis industry will come together on March 23 in Miami for the 2016 State of the Industry Forum, to be held at the Hilton Miami Downtown from 10-11:30 a.m.

Prior to the start of the State of the Industry Forum, a Tennis Tech Fair & Resource Center will open at 9 a.m. and offer the opportunity to learn about key new trends and products in the marketplace to help industry businesses run more effectively and help boost member and player engagement.

At the Forum, top tennis officials will present the latest news and data about the industry, including participation research, consumer and technology trends, tennis marketplace data, an update on grow-the-game initiatives, and updates from the USTA, including the progress at the new USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., and the renovations at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, home of the US Open.

The Forum also will outline ways to better define and boost the economic growth and impact of the tennis industry, and effective ways to distribute clear, consistent messaging of health, fitness and the reasons to play tennis.

Speakers at the Forum will include Kurt Kamperman, the USTA’s chief executive of Community Tennis & the USTA National Campus; Jeff Williams, TIA president and managing partner of the Tennis Media Co.; John Suchenski, ESPN’s senior manager of programming & acquisitions; Keith Storey, vice president of Sports Marketing Surveys USA; Mark Byrd, chief customer officer for RetailNet Group; and other executives.

Presented by the Tennis Industry Association (TIA), the State of the Industry Forum is free for those in the industry to attend, however space is limited, so registration is required (visit www.TheTOMConference.com). The Forum is being held in conjunction with the Tennis Owners & Managers (T.O.M.) Conference, which continues through March 25.

Support Bradenton Fundraiser for Down Syndrome Tennis Program at IMG Academy

Buddy Up Tennis Sarasota will host its second annual major fundraising event, “Tennis with the Stars, Where our Athletes Shine,” on Sunday, March 13, 2016, at 1 p.m. at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and tennis fans can support the effort in person or online.

Proceeds from the special event will benefit Buddy Up Tennis Sarasota, one of 14 locations under Buddy Up Tennis, Inc., a non-profit 501c(3) organization which provides individuals with Down syndrome a weekly adaptive program focused on tennis, fitness and fun.

International Tennis Hall of Fame coach Nick Bollettieri will be the Celebrity Coach Sponsor for the event, and will be on the courts for the demonstration. Ray Collins will serve as the event announcer and partner with DJ Cesar Morales throughout the festivities.

One of the highlights, a 50/50 Helicopter Ball Drop Fundraiser, will take place at 2:45 p.m. when a helicopter drops tennis balls over the IMG courts. The tennis ball that lands closest to the target on the tennis court will be the winner, earning 50 percent of the funds raised, with 50 percent going to support Buddy Up Tennis.

Fans and supporters can participate in the ball drop online at http://buddyuptennis.com/news-press-ball-drop or in person the day of the event.

“Our program has grown tremendously since we joined Buddy Up Tennis Inc. in January 2015,” said Allison Davis, special events coordinator of Buddy Up Tennis Sarasota. “The funds raised from ‘Tennis With the Stars, Where Our Athletes Shine’ will ensure that our athletes will continue to participate in our program and stay on the courts at no cost to their families, and that we are able to bring more athletes with Down syndrome to our weekly clinics.”

For more event info go to http://buddyuptennis.com/news-press-ball-drop.

Mardy Fish Vero Beach Pro Circuit Event to Hold Wild Card Tournaments

The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation announced it will hold two main draw wild card tournaments for its men’s $10,000 USTA Pro Circuit event, The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, to be held April 26-May 1, 2016 at The Boulevard Tennis Club in Vero Beach, Fla.

A singles wild card tournament will be held on April 1-3 at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens. Entries close on March 28. For more info go to http://m1e.net/c?83116921-hZV3iDLSZR7OE%40386948662-0vuQwu00cVfPI.

A singles and doubles wild card tournament will be held on April 1-3 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, former site of the ATP Tour’s U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships. Entries close on March 28. For more info go to www.TennisWDW.com.

Winners of the singles and doubles wild card tournaments in Orlando, and the winner of the singles wild card tournament in Palm Beach Gardens will have the opportunity to earn ATP points at the USTA Pro Circuit Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championship and move their way up the ATP World Tour Rankings.

On Feb. 22, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation announced it had taken over the management of the $10,000 Futures tennis tournament in Vero Beach, one of the longest-running and best attended events on the USTA Pro Circuit. Tournament proceeds will benefit the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the non-profit youth tennis foundation, named for Vero Beach native son Mardy Fish.

For tournament ticket info or more information go to www.VeroBeachTennisTickets.com.