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Our Serve: The Tennis Show is Back!

By Peter Francesconi

After a hiatus in 2013, The Tennis Show in New York City is back. The 2014 Tennis Show will be on Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Grand Hyatt New York, the day before play starts at the US Open.

The last Tennis Show was held in 2012, in conjunction with the Tennis Teachers Conference. But then last year, the USTA decided not to hold the TTC, and the feeling among many was without that “anchor” event for teaching pros and coaches, there wouldn’t be a large industry crowd for a 2013 trade show. Now, with the Tennis Teachers Conference back (from Aug. 22 to 25) — and this year combined with the USPTA annual conference — this will be one of the pivotal events on the tennis industry calendar.

The Tennis Show exhibitor area opens at 6 p.m., featuring 50 tennis companies and organizations displaying their latest in products and services. Just prior to the show, the TIA will present its Tennis Forum and update the industry on current market research and initiatives. The Forum will be followed by the induction of industry pioneer Jim Baugh into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame. (The Tennis Show program is inserted in this issue after page 30, so you can see what it’s all about and which companies and organizations will be on hand.)

This year’s exhibitor show is larger than in 2012, but nonetheless the TIA, which is presenting the show, has found that demand to exhibit has been extensive; booth space quickly sold out within weeks. So the TIA is adding an innovative “Virtual Event Bag.” Companies and organizations that are unable to exhibit on-site at The Tennis Show can still be in front of show attendees and others with special offers and printable coupons in the Virtual Event Bag. Go to TennisShow.com to see how it all works and to sign up for free access to the Virtual Event Bag. The bag will be “open” two days prior to the show and for about a month after.

The industry used to get together every year at the Super Show, where we could keep up with all the initiatives and latest research about the sport, address challenges, formulate and refine strategies, and network. When that mega-event went away, we lost a key gathering point for the entire tennis industry that has been hard to get back.

For those of us who make a living from this sport, we need an industry-only rallying point like The Tennis Show, where we can not only see the new products and services out there, network with colleagues, and talk about and plan the future direction of tennis, but also where we can celebrate all the great things about this sport and industry.

Peter Francesconi, Editorial Director
peter @ racquettech.com

See all articles by Peter Francesconi

About the Author

Peter Francesconi is editorial director of Tennis Industry magazine.

From the August 2014 issue
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