TIA tennis forum

‘Roadmap for a Healthy Sport’

The fourth annual TIA Tennis Forum, with the theme, “Roadmap for a Healthy Sport,” will be Tuesday, Aug. 31, at the Grand Hyatt in New York City. The Tennis Forum, presented by Tennis Magazine, will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the Manhattan Ballroom and is free and open to all in the industry.

Held in conjunction with the 40th Annual USTA Tennis Teachers Conference, the Forum will present the latest news about the state of the tennis industry, including participation growth, equipment sales data, grassroots initiatives and more.

Importantly, the Forum will outline pathways to increasing the number of frequent players in the U.S., 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.

The USTA Tennis Teachers Conference runs from Aug. 28 to 31 and is a leading resource for teaching professionals, organizers and coaches and includes presentations and seminars, an exhibitor area, and opportunities for tennis teachers to network.

For more information about the TIA Tennis Forum, visit TennisIndustry.org/Forum.

2010 Tennis Industry Hall of Fame to be Announced at Forum

Also at this year’s Tennis Forum, the 2010 inductees into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame will be announced. The TI Hall of Fame was created in 2008 to recognize individuals who have made a significant impact on the sport, from the 1960s to the present. Nominations are made in four categories: inventors, founders, innovators and contributors. For more information about the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame, visit TennisIndustry.org/hof.

The first TI Hall of Fame inductees were Dennis Van der Meer and Howard Head; 2009’s sole inductee was Alan Schwartz. Plaques of Tennis Industry Hall of Fame inductees are on display at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I.

First-Quarter Shipments Rebound

While first-quarter TIA racquet census reports showed racquet shipments flat (1.1% increase over same period ’09), wholesale dollars for the quarter were up 19%, reflecting a growing trend in performance racquet demand and increasing price points. TIA Census reports also showed unit shipments of balls (6.2%) and strings (8.0%) up for the same quarter. At pro/specialty, racquets have been increasing monthly from 4% in January to a high of 18% in April compared to sales in 2009.

Industry Snapshot

Tennis Welcome Centers: 2,742

Cardio Tennis: 1,776

QuickStart Tennis: 1,602

Consumer Queries: 4 million monthly

Searchable Events: 100,000

Online Court Reservations: 2 million

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