Night Tennis: Another Attempt at Popularizing Tennis
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Nov 2, 2006 | Print
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You can certainly never say that the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour did not try to improve tennis’ popularity.
The Tour may not know how to fix the withdrawal problem, but it seems like they will never run out of ideas to make tennis more popular to the masses. There has been no shortage of innovations in the past season, including on-court coaching, instant replay, and more fan-friendly stars.
But the latest idea, Night Tennis, may just be the most fascinating, not to mention unique yet.
Sony Ericsson, the title sponsor of the Women’s Tennis Association, is set to unveil a brand new approach to the traditional game of tennis. The newest innovation is Night Tennis, which to me seems eerily reminiscent of laser tag, except with racquets and balls. It will make its official debut next week in Madrid and will without a doubt receive mixed reviews across the board.
Night Tennis will run over two evenings, 9th and 10th November, as part of Sony Ericsson sponsored entertainment, competitions and events during the week of the Sony Ericsson Championships. Eight players will take to the court wearing specially designed neon whites to serve up a new type of tennis. Played in pitch black, with UV as the only source of light, it promises to revolutionise the way tennis is played and watched.
Night Tennis will provide clubbers with a sensory extravaganza like no other. Each game will be punctuated by intense music beats and an incredible light show. The court, net and balls along with players clothing will be fully UV reactive ensuring an exciting and stimulating experience.
(source: Phone Content)
Playing tennis in the dark has never really been something that strikes my fancy. I am curious to see how it actually plays out, but I know it certainly will deliver a “stimulating experience”.
Personally, it almost seems like the Tour is grabbing for straws in hopes of attracting people to the game. Unfortunately, if they keep coming up with schemes like this, they will only stand to alienate the true lovers of the game, and we are not the ones that turn up at tournaments just to gawk at Maria Sharapova.
I hope I do not sound like a stick in the mud, and I honestly believe that tennis needs help with becoming more popular to every-day people. I am all for innovation and believe that change is sometimes good. New ideas help bring new life to traditional things, but is playing tennis in the dark really going to attract fans that actually have an interest in the game of tennis? Are these people really going to be week-in-and-week out followers of the Tour, keeping track with tournaments in Asia and the South Pacific? Night Tennis sounds like a temporary fix - only a way to boost attendance at tournaments.
For those of us that are not fortunate enough to be in Madrid for the Championships next week, do not worry about not getting a chance to see Night Tennis in action. The press release assures us that Sony Ericsson is hoping to do this again “in selected cities next year to coincide with major tournaments on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.” I think it is safe to guess that Wimbledon will probably not be one of them.
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Sapphisto | Nov 2, 2006 | Reply
“I hope I do not sound like a stick in the mud”
Heck no!! Just a genuine tennis fan.
Have these idiots considered that maybe it’s a risk to the players’ wellbeing to play in the DARK??? (Not to mention, it can be quite hazardous up in the grandstand even at a normal night game - I had some obnoxious kid trample all over my camera bag at the Acura Classic; luckily nothing was damaged.) I can only hope that the players in question are not our favorite pros.
And as for this:
“The press release assures us that Sony Ericsson is hoping to do this again “in selected cities next year to coincide with major tournaments on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.†I think it is safe to guess that Wimbledon will probably not be one of them.”
Aaress, I snorted so loud I had to explain what was going on to my coworkers. LOL!
Aaress | Nov 2, 2006 | Reply
You know on second thought about Wimbledon - it might not be too much of a stretch.
After all, the players are dressed in white . . .
Sapphisto | Nov 2, 2006 | Reply
OHHH - don’t even go there - sacrilege!!!
ROFL, you evil woman, you!!!
(The strawberries might survive, but the cream would definitely curdle in sheer apoplectic horror….)
Aaress | Nov 2, 2006 | Reply
LOL - that is hilarious!
stewpot | Nov 3, 2006 | Reply
I can not imagine the increased risks for injury to the players in a sport that battles injuries on a regular basis.
On another note, does the Houston West Side Tennis club changing its playing surfaces cause much of a change to tennis in Houston?
Aaress | Nov 3, 2006 | Reply
Actually, Stewpot, the changes at Westside will definitely cause a big change to tennis in Houston. The McIngvale’s have decided to get rid of Westside’s grass courts, and change the focus from tennis to more of a fitness club.
As for its effect on professional tennis, the men’s clay court championship is only guaranteed in Houston until 2008. According to Dale Robertson at the Houston Chronicle, Mattress Mac will be pushing for a new hardcourt tournament during the summer.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/ten/4296276.html
Personally, I doubt Houston will get anything especially as this would fall right during the heart of the US Open Series and the calendar is pretty packed already. Unless of course one of the other tournaments wants to move to Houston. I’d love to see Houston get a woman’s tournament in the future as the only thing we have is a Challenger Circuit event at River Oaks.
Vicki | Nov 3, 2006 | Reply
OK how is going to promote the game to the masses. I don’t blame them for trying new things to get new fans in but I don’t think they will be trying this again.