It’s not a well-kept secret that the economic impact of the US Open to New York City exceeds that of the Mets and Yankees combined. While a million people attend the Open every year, estimates are that 6500 seasonal jobs pull off this yearly 3-week event. Last week we called it the ‘best-dressed mosh pit’ in the world. It’s crowded, it’s loud and it’s the place to be for celebrity sightings and pure passion on the court. Everyone seems to be smiling.
It was busy in Flushing this year as One million people attended the US Open!
Almost Lost
Every year some of the veterans of the history of the US Open muse about how close it was that we lost the tournament to the city of Atlanta in 1978. The tournament had been played at the famed West Side Tennis Club of Forest Hills, until it was obvious expansion there was impossible. Then Mayor, David Dinkins, was able to pave the way politically to ensure there was a swath of land in the park to host the ever-growing tournament. And the USTA was convinced that New York was the place to keep this event. Every year it seems to have grown and now with a week of free admission during the qualifying tournament and Kid’s Day, The tournament and its operation is a model for the growth of any sport. Our conversation with the proprietor of a number of tennis facilities in NYC revealed that tennis is having a surge of popularity not seen since the early 1980s.
The draw and tournament results sign at the entrance is still done by hand. Some of the vets remember the sign in Forest Hills that was hand painted. When a player won, their name would be painted as they won.
Well we love the economic impact to New York, which could top 1.4 billion dollars this year.
