Week 29 - Great Britain F14 ($10,000) - Felixstowe (Grass)

RJA · Hall of fame

Week 29 - Great Britain F14 ($10,000) - Felixstowe (Grass)

Shhh · Challenger level

NB: I went to Felixstowe a few years back and, only 1 court was what really geared up for viewing, the rest were through a chain link fence at back of court. I am surprised there is a charge, the worst of the futures I have attended for viewing, it may have changed since I went of course.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
Pauffley, Willis, Fitzpatrick, Gabb, Farquharson, Burton, Bloomfield, Ward-Hibbert, Broady, Coupland, Orton, Ireland, Malik and Hudson should all be in the main draw here.
Looks like a wild card for O'Mara, although he might have sneaked in as the last DA.

Hoping this doesn't mean Fitzy has had to pull out again. It would be good to see him back on court.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Shhh wrote:
NB: I went to Felixstowe a few years back and, only 1 court was what really geared up for viewing, the rest were through a chain link fence at back of court. I am surprised there is a charge, the worst of the futures I have attended for viewing, it may have changed since I went of course.

Five pounds to look through a chain link fence at the back of a court ???

Are you kidding ?

airsmashers · County player

My nearest event but put off by the £5 charge

RJA · Hall of fame

I must admit I don't have a principled objections to charging an entrance fee. If you consider the first day of the tournament you are looking at getting at least 6-7 hours of play (and at least 4 hours play on any other day excluding Saturday) so £5 is frankly outstanding value for money. Given however the very low attendances at British futures events I do question the wisdom of this move

BradMarx90 · County player

I saw Imran Aswat play in Ilkley last week. He didn't seem to have a grass court game at all, to be quite honest. I'm sure he'll make it to the main draw, especially as he's in the same section as Ryan Penistone who will be looking to build on his results from Ilkley. Joe Salisbury has a kind draw, bye in the first round, although Jordan Kelly-Houston looked competent in Ilkley.

Don't know much about the rest! Would love to see O'Mara in the main draw as he played really well this week.

wolf · Tennis legend

I often think that by charging an entry fee tournaments would get more people through the doors.

steven · Tennis legend

wolf wrote:
I often think that by charging an entry fee tournaments would get more people through the doors.

Yes, it's possible that charging an entry fee might make people think there's something worth seeing, whereas free entry might not! If the tennis club combined it with other activities like so many of the US events so, it might work even better!

philwrig · Hall of fame

The ole reverse psychology trick !

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

steven wrote:
wolf wrote:
I often think that by charging an entry fee tournaments would get more people through the doors.
Yes, it's possible that charging an entry fee might make people think there's something worth seeing, whereas free entry might not! If the tennis club combined it with other activities like so many of the US events so, it might work even better!

The American tennis events get it spot on IMO in the way they cleverly commercialise everything. For example having the USTA Series links the events together and makes them seem much more important and official, plus the likes of cameramen and commentators add to the sense of legitimacy of the event.

Even the naming is clever; the challenger this week in Yakima is called the Yakima Regional Hospital Challenger - no idea why or what the link is but if people feel they are supporting parts of the local community through attending the event then surely more people are likely to turn up. The events always feel much more polished to me.

Shhh · Challenger level

Coup Droit wrote:
Shhh wrote:
NB: I went to Felixstowe a few years back and, only 1 court was what really geared up for viewing, the rest were through a chain link fence at back of court. I am surprised there is a charge, the worst of the futures I have attended for viewing, it may have changed since I went of course.

Five pounds to look through a chain link fence at the back of a court ???
Are you kidding ?

No I'm not sadly. When I went it was a joint ladies/mens affair and the "show court" as such was well catered for viewing but my memory tells me it was the only one? The event was billed as the East of England championship and I presume had a history as an event(?) I think there may have been a charge then, made by the club I presume?

I walked around and viewed Miles Kasiri vs David Brewer through a chain link fence and didn't really know if I should be standing there, I was the only one and I felt really self conscious when the players looked over at me. On the court beyond that was Jade Curtis and I could only watch that from the same point, across the mens match. It really wasn't spectator friendly which is the opposite of the other couple of futures events I have attended (Redbridge and Frinton), both of which were free and an excellent day out for a fan.

RJA · Hall of fame

Frinton is a lovely venue and I went there for a day in 2010 and for two days in 2011. Last year its event was moved to Felixstowe at the last minute because the courts were water logged. I was pretty disappointed to see that the event had stayed at Felixstowe this year. Prior to 2010 there was a futures at both Frinton and Felixstowe but the latter lost out when the Manchester challenger was downgraded.

I will probably go to Felixstowe for at least one day (£5 would be dwarfed by the cost of petrol anyway) but if I am charged for entry and viewing of all courts is not adequate I will be sending a snotty complaint to the LTA.

Like Shhh I have occasionally been the only spectator for a match, and other times one of a handful. It is a strange feeling as the players will naturally look at the only person who is there and it often feels like they are thinking 'who the hell are you?' and 'why are you looking at me like that?'

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

It'll be interesting to hear your feedback, RJA, and anyone else's who's going - on the tennis and on the facilities,

I assume that kids get in free ? Is that under 18s or under 16s or indeed something else ? Otherwise, 20 pounds gets very toppy for a family of four. Curious to know too if students, unwaged, OAPs pay the same price.
I know that it sounds like I'm going overboard about a fiver and, as you say, petrol can dwarf it, but I'm just interested . . .

And, yes, I've quite often been one of a handful of spectators - and I like to be vocal ! So, I clap loudly (for either or both players when they play well) and shout encouragement sometimes - very embarrassing all round really - I;ve often been mistaken for a parent or coach (as in: why else would anybody be there getting carried away ?)

PockyTastic · Futures level

RJA wrote:

Like Shhh I have occasionally been the only spectator for a match, and other times one of a handful. It is a strange feeling as the players will naturally look at the only person who is there and it often feels like they are thinking 'who the hell are you?' and 'why are you looking at me like that?'

I have had that experience too. I went the tournament that used to be held at Cumberland, London. There were benches for viewing matches alongside a group of matches but apart from club officials and family of players there were seemingly no spectators bar me - felt a bit of a creeper watching the matches a feeling that was magnified by the fact that you had to ring the doorbell of the club to get in...