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Post Info TOPIC: Week 36 - Great Britain F15 ($10,000) - Roehampton (Hard)
RJA


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RE: Week 36 - Great Britain F15 ($10,000) - Roehampton (Hard)
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Spectator wrote:

And I do think there should be more money available -- for the good of the whole game, not simply the players. Firstly, the argument that people don't go to Futures, ergo they must not be of interest and therefore don't merit further recompense doesn't fully hold water for me. I think there are probably a fair number of people who would happily trot along to a futures match (especially on a grass court in the summer .... but at other times too) if any effort whatsoever were made to present them as something worth watching. Or even something that you could find without first needing a secret map, a special key and a password whispered in hushed tones. Why not try to create the market? Or if you don't think that Futures ("your chance to see the stars of the future") would do it, why not try to create something like the various club systems in other countries, mixing players of different (professional) ability levels? A "club tour" could help raise income levels, let lower-level players mingle with those at a higher level, and get more viewers.

 

Agree with pretty much with all of this. The LTA's promotion of British futures is a disgrace. On top of your points I would also add that they need to schedule things in a more fan friendly manner. For example, Friday at a British futures sees both singles semifinals and the doubles final. This could be a good day's entertainment but at pretty much every event they schedule both semi-finals simutaneously rather than back to back.



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Ratty


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The theory is good, but ...

Most Futures venues don't have any facilities for spectators. The novelty of standing on a balcony soon wears off. And you only have to look at the entries in Turkey's 50-Futures-per-year programme to see that bumping up the numbers and the prize money will just mean handing over said extra prize money to Jonny Foreigner ...

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SMC1809


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Ratty wrote:

The theory is good, but ...

Most Futures venues don't have any facilities for spectators. The novelty of standing on a balcony soon wears off. And you only have to look at the entries in Turkey's 50-Futures-per-year programme to see that bumping up the numbers and the prize money will just mean handing over said extra prize money to Jonny Foreigner ...

I think you're guessing again Ratty. Have you been to most venues to evidence this? Perhaps we should start a thread that lists venues and relative viewing facilities. Not to prove or disprove your point but more for the benefit of anyone wanting to watch.

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Madeline


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Well, I have been to Futures in Sunderland and a Satellite (yes, that long ago) in Nottingham, and I agree with Ratty (for once). It is not a good experience, and almost impossible to get a decent view of any match. You need contortions to see anything.

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Bob in Spain


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Here in Spain, I have been to three different venues for futures tournaments. Two of them where ideal for viewing (Elche and Murcia) with seating for a couple of hundred people on the show court and the possibility to walk around the other courts without too much difficulty. Cartagena, on the other hand, was not so good with only a few seats and no chance to walk around.

Having said that, there weren't many people watching here either (mostly club members I would say), although I did only attend the early rounds. Would be interesting to see how many people attend the finals.

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RJA


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SMC1809 wrote:
Ratty wrote:

The theory is good, but ...

Most Futures venues don't have any facilities for spectators. The novelty of standing on a balcony soon wears off. And you only have to look at the entries in Turkey's 50-Futures-per-year programme to see that bumping up the numbers and the prize money will just mean handing over said extra prize money to Jonny Foreigner ...

 

I think you're guessing again Ratty. Have you been to most venues to evidence this? Perhaps we should start a thread that lists venues and relative viewing facilities. Not to prove or disprove your point but more for the benefit of anyone wanting to watch.

 

I can start you off

 

Frinton - Nice club, "main court" can be watched from outside the club house (quite a few chairs), 4 other courts easily watched from a grass terrace that runs behind them. All in all not bad.

Chiswick - Not suitable for anyone other than hard core fans. One court can be viewed from a terrace (although not that well). Some courts can be viewed from the side. Some can only be viewed from a tiny area at the back of the courts (between each courts back board)

Wrexham - Not suitable for anyone other than hard core fans. All courts viewed from ground level (side and or behind). Very few chairs. Lack of back boards on the courts means you have to be careful not to walk behind them while play is ongoing

Nottingham - Not suitable for anyone other than hard core fans. Very similar to Wrexham when it comes to the hard courts.

Cumberland - Not suitable for anyone other than hard core fans. Reasonable viewing positions available for some of the hard courts from an elevated level but very few chairs. Other courts not good to view.

 



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indiana


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I don't think "inspire a generation" is quite uppermost in the LTA's futures set up  cry



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Jack Buxton


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indiana wrote:

I don't think "inspire a generation" is quite uppermost in the LTA's futures set up  cry

 or with the overwhelming number of challengers we hold....



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Jack Buxton


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Evo takes first set 7-5

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Count Zero


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I definitely think there is more that could be done to promote futures (well even challengers). surely we are at a stage where all centre courts of tournaments can be streamed with the LTA hosting, lets face it a lot of the betting sites stream already so maybe a deal could be found, however the steams will need to be decent quality and a sensible angle. Even without commentary but a maybe some info on the players on the site. Next you' want to get the BBC to at least provide a link through their tennis page. more and more the BBC link to external sites now anyway.


the problem with venues is maybe harder, but surely in most places tennis courts are build in at least pairs, surely the adjacnet court could hold a small grand stand just for the centre ct.


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RJA


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Evo comes through a topsy turvy match

7-5, 7-6(4)

Continues to struggle against players that he really should beat comfortably. He was broken 4 times in the match and Daniell twice served for the second set.

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steven


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3-0 to the Brits v the southern hemisphere today

QF: (1) Dan Evans WR 337 beat (7) Marcus Daniell (NZL) WR 688 by 7-5 7-6(4)
QF: (6) James Marsalek WR 663 beat (4) Ruan Roelofse (RSA) WR 463 by 7-6(5) 6-2 biggrin
QF: (3) Josh Milton WR 438 beat Jean Andersen (RSA) WR 989 by 2 & 4
QF: Matt Short WR 767 v (WC) James Ireland WR 1507



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RJA


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Second week in a row that Marsalek beats Roelofse in the QFs

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Gary Denton


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Have only played casual tennis at Graves in Sheffield, but I would think that watching a game from the balcony would not be an edifying experience, couple that with the fact that there is a gym up there too and it would soon feel crowded. Also, play starts at some really early hour, presumably to accommodate the public sessions.

Ilkley has a nice set-up with a temporary grandstand installed. It was quite a culture shock having only previously seen WTA and ATP level on tv. Players having to pick up their own balls, dodgy umpiring/line calls, oh wait!......Quite enjoyable and at least I could identify who was who from the scoreboard.



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Searching for tennis courts. I reckon there's about 1 court per 25,000 people in our wonderful borough :(
Jack Buxton


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Short through 3 & 2

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