2008” were recognized by the Tennis Industry Association, U.S. Tennis
Association and the trade magazine Racquet Sports Industry. The tennis
facilities honored all exhibited excellent participation figures involving new
and returning players, support of industry programs and community tennis
development, and were active with
facility requirements, among other criteria.
“All of the more than 2,500 Tennis Welcome
Centers have played a key role in the increased tennis participation weve seen
in the last few years in the
says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. “These Top 50 Tennis Welcome Centers
have been doing an exemplary job of creating a positive tennis experience for
people in their communities. Tennis Welcome Centers serve a vital role in
delivering tennis. The TIA, together
with the USTA, is very pleased to recognize these efforts with this award.”
“Tennis teaching professionals, facility
managers and the staff of these TWCs play a critical role in ensuring the
continued growth of players in our sport,” says Glenn Arrington, the USTA
National Manager for Tennis Welcome Centers. “The USTA remains committed in our
support of the TIA and of the Tennis Welcome Center Initiative, which helps
introduce thousands of new players to tennis each year.”
To choose the Top 50 TWCs, an independent
research firm, Sports Marketing Surveys USA of Jupiter,
survey. The company then used extensive criteria measures to determine this
years winners, which also were reviewed by an Awards Committee. This is the
third year that this prestigious recognition has been awarded.
The
backed by all sectors of the industry, from governing bodies and manufacturers
to media, retailers, teaching organizations, pro groups and facilities. Popular
pro players Maria Sharapova and James Blake are spokesmodels for the program,
which is free to tennis facilities that wish to support industry efforts to
grow participation through specific programming and marketing.
The TWC initiative has been a key factor in
tennis reaching nearly 27 million recreational players in 2008, which is the
highest participation level in 15 years. In addition, according to a study by
the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, from 2000 to 2008 tennis
participation has grown 43%, by far the fastest growing traditional
participation sport, well ahead of its nearest rival (racquetball, at 11.6%)
and far surpassing sports such as golf, soccer, basketball, swimming and
baseball, most of which saw declining participation over the same eight years.
Also, industry research shows that both racquet sales and ball sales have
increased for the last five years from 2003 through 2008.
