Billie Jean King Cup: Apparently, tennis isn’t in a recession?

So I guess everyone is really, REALLY, banking on those stimulus checks?

Take four of the biggest names in Woman’s tennis, put them in arguably the greatest arena of all time, and put them in a single elimination tournament with $1,000 tickets, and what do you have?  The Billie Jean King Cup!  More info from the WTA Tour website,

Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and the Williams sisters will face off in a one night only, single elimination event which will also celebrate tennis legend Billie Jean King. The BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup is scheduled for Monday, March 2 at Madison Square Garden and will be telecast live on HBO at 7:30pm.

Limited front row VIP tickets for $1,000.00 and additional tickets listed at $325.00, $175.00, $125.00, $75.00, and $50.00 have gone on sale and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and on the internet at www.thegarden.com. The $1.2-million event, the featured component of the national Tennis Night in America promotion, is produced by StarGames in association with Madison Square Garden. The event will benefit the Dream Vaccines Foundation and Women’s Sports Foundation.

In this unique format, each participant will compete in a one set, no ad scoring semifinal, with the winners advancing to a best of three set final (regular scoring) for the Billie Jean King Cup. Depending on the draw, which will be announced at a later date, there exists a potential rematch of both the 2008 US Open (Serena Williams vs Jankovic) and Wimbledon (Williams vs Williams) finals.

The entire event is a part of the USTA’s (United States Tennis Association) effort to get kids involved in playing tennis.  Good idea, but $1,000 for VIP seats?  What do they think this is, the Super Bowl?  As far as events go, it sounds like the USTA has done everything right.  Take the biggest names in your sport, pit them against each other, and make up some crazy format so you can do everything in one night.  Furthermore, the USTA has to think this move will be at least moderately successful based on last year’s Sampras-Federer extravaganza (where seats were apparently $125 a ticket? Ouch.)  But the USTA has to remember that, these, dear friends, are different times.  When the economy is in shambles, and the government has to give the nation money in order to stimulate the economy, does the average joe, or the average family have the money to see a pricey event at MSG?  Probably not.  And sure, one could argue that those VIP seats will be purchased for corporate sponsors anyway, which is probably true, but doesn’t that help to defeat the entire purpose of the event in the first place?

“Our core mission is to grow the sport of tennis throughout the United States,” said USTA Executive Director and COO Gordon Smith. “An exciting event such as this, featuring four of the most dynamic players in the game in one of the most revered venues in the world, is a wonderful opportunity to not only galvanize our fans, but to attract so many more to this great sport.”

Umm…well, at least I have good news for all those 10 year olds with $1,000 in their piggy banks…Good seats are still available.

Sony Ericsson WTA Tour –  Billie Jean King Cup Tickets – On Sale Now

Sports Business Digest — Super Bowl Tickets:  Now with a face value of $1000!

Tags: Ana Ivanovic, Billie Jean King Cup, Jelena Jankovic, Madison square garden, recession, Serena Williams, Tennis, Venus Williams

Category: Fringe Sports