In The End…
From the very beginning the US Open constantly reminded the tennis world that it was doing its utmost to stage a premier event during a pandemic…and that without fans and other forms of support financially, it was going to take a financial bath.
Annually, the tournament, according to statements, accrues $140 million in assorted media rights fees. It has an 11 year, $825 million deal with ESPN, which works out to about $75 million yearly.
Lew Sherr, the USTA’s chief revenue officer, said that even with all the savings from not having to provide the necessary access to food, amenities and security for some 800,000 spectators, profits would be off by 80 percent. There was also the significant expense of administering more than 13,000 coronavirus tests, housing and feeding staff, officials and players, along with transportation to and from bubble hotels and private accommodations that were used, and then of course the prize money that was offered.
In a period of time with the world dealing with dire social, economic and health conditions on a daily basis, was it practical to engage in such an epic undertaking as this year’s US Open? According to Michael Dowse, USTA CEO and Executive Director, “The alternative we were looking at was no tennis.”
Just wondering – Would that have been so bad?
