Top Tennis as a Family FestA multitude of events and activities for spectators
Stuttgart. The move to the new Porsche-Arena will not only make the Porsche-Tennis-Grand-Prix more attractive for the world’s best women players. Its numerous off-court events and activities will also make the world class tournament from 30 September to 8 October a quite special experience for spectators as well.
Spectacular Opening Show with Drummers and Artistes
Though the Porsche-Tennis-Grand-Prix begins on Saturday, 30 September with qualifying, the official opening ceremony under the motto “Welcome home in the Porsche-Arena“ will take place however on Sunday, 1 October at 1.00 pm. After the pulsating start provided by drummers and projections and the public drawing of the main draw singles pairings at which the players will be presented to the crowd, the Centre Court will then be converted back to a show stage. With a spectacular dance performance, around 50 dancers, artistes, drummers and opera singers from Europa-Park Rust, Germany’s largest fun-park, will entice the audience into a fascinating world amidst virtuosity and reality. Director Enno Uhde promises a colourful fireworks, “a modern performance taking the spirit of Porsche and the fascination of this exceptional sporting event and giving the audience the chance to sense them.”
A Heart for Children
Visits to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix are intended to become an experience for the whole family. In order to underline the family-friendly nature of the traditional tournament a free Montessori method childcare service will be made available in cooperation with the tournament partner Nienhuis for the first time in the history of the Porsche-Tennis-Grand-Prix. Children aged between three and six years will be looked after by qualified child carers from “AWO Kinderhaus Lörrach”.
Attractive Public Area
In the neighbouring Schleyerhalle an entertaining mixture of sport, shopping and lifestyle will be offered by the public area in which tennis fans will enjoy themselves - and not just during the breaks in play. A 4000m² area containing a 35 stand manufacturer and retail exhibition plus the renowned “Porsche-Gastronomie” – with Klaus Gunsilius at the helm, they are represented by a restaurant and café - will be an inviting place to promenade and generally while away time. Top tennis and top cuisine: as he did at the Stuttgart City Fest the Michelin starred chef Franz Feckl will be cooking for Porsche. An important element of the Sport & Lifestyle Village is the practice court open to the spectators giving them direct access to the players for the first time. During the course of the week the court will be turned into an activities area. Along with many other activities, a mini-tennis tournament is planned. For the duration of the tournament week a service speed measuring machine will determine the champion spectator. Each day’s winner will receive two tickets for the final.
New 911 Targa 4S for the Winner
The winner of the Porsche-Tennis-Grand-Prix is spoilt for choice: she will have to decide between 98,500 dollars prize money and a new Porsche 911 Targa 4S as the main prize. The most striking features of the elegant sports car, whose familiar six cylinder Boxer engine produces 355 hp and accelerates the car from 0 to 100 kph in 4.9 seconds, are the large glass roof and the tilting rear windshield.
Fun and Games for Young Fans
The organisers of the Porsche-Tennis-Grand-Prix have thought up something really special for young visitors. On Saturday, 30 September, the WTB-FUN-TOWN will open its doors at 9.30 am in the Schleyerhalle next to the Porsche-Arena. In the colourful fun and games arena with various have-a-go stations, 1000 children and teenagers from the area covered by the Württemberg Tennis Association will have the chance to get a taste of world class tennis close up. Excitement and entertainment will be catered for. And there will be no shortage of sport: young fans can watch the pros practicing and test the power of their own serves. After a tombola with attractive prizes it will be off to the Porsche-Arena, where they will be given complimentary tickets for the Porsche-Tennis-Grand-Prix qualifying matches.
Interactive Fun
Spectators will profit in two ways from the modern technology in the Porsche-Arena: the video cube above the Centre Court will provide the audience with slow motion replays during matches. On the enormous video screen at the end of the court not only the players will be presented in a completely new way. The special attraction will be the Audience Match. The video tennis game will involve the spectators themselves. Depending on how the audience in the stand collectively moves, the beam on the screen returns the ball to the other stand: video tennis as interactive mass fun.
Fan Club for Every Player
Every player at the Porsche-Tennis-Grand-Prix will be supported by their own fan club. Organised for the first time, the Player’s Cheer Up fan block project makes it all possible for the first time. Comprising of eight children and teenagers, fan clubs from clubs belonging to the Württemberg Tennis Association will be given free entry to all of their player’s matches. The longer the player remains in the tournament, the more matches they can watch. Fan clubs should not only give their player loud vocal support and invent chants and create banners that are original as possible but take advantage of the tremendous atmosphere in the new Porsche-Arena and infect the rest of the audience with their enthusiasm. The three most creative fan clubs will be awarded prizes on finals day on Sunday.
Revolutionary Experiment
The Porsche-Tennis-Grand-Prix is the first tournament in Europe at which the players’ organisation WTA will test on-court coaching in official competition. Players will be allowed to request their coach or another confidant to come on court during the set breaks to give them advice. A revolutionary experiment as coaching during matches has been strictly prohibited up to now. For the WTA the innovation is one of a number of measures designed to make women’s tennis even more attractive in the future for fans and television.
GO
25.09.2006