The Atlanta Tennis Championships appeared to be a hit again with players, fans and the ATP, and preparations already are being made for the next event.
First-year tournament director Bob Bryant said he tried to apply lessons to the Racquet Club of the South that were learned from the inaugural event at the Atlanta Athletic Club last year.
"I had an advantage coming in second," he said. "[A] lot of people were already on to what we could do better; we managed that."
Bryant said efforts are being made to secure the site of next year's event by the end of August and find a title sponsor, something the event hasn't had, by the end of the year. Representatives from Atlanta-based and regional companies toured the event this week.
Estimated ticket sales will fall a thousand short of the 35,000 sold last year, and Bryant attributed some of that to the smaller Stadium Court used this time.
ATP tournament supervisor Tom Barnes said there wasn't any concern over sales, noting that the minimum requirement was doubled for the event.
The smaller stadium size appealed to fans who attended both events.
“It’s a little more intimate, with the bowl shape," Marietta's Susan O’Farrell said. "It’s great that you can see the players up close. You can see them practicing on the back courts."
Bryant said the event will be more aggressive with ticket packages and sales next year to appeal to fans, including those 20 and younger, who want to watch some of the local college players compete.
Fans also praised the food court, which was significantly larger than last year's and gave them a place to escape the heat.
"The food is really good this year, with all of the vendors inside," usher Lorrie Crowder said.
A big concern were the shuttles that were needed to get most of the fans and volunteers to the Racquet Club of the South, which is tucked off a main road in Norcross behind a residential complex. After a rough start during the qualifying events held the previous weekend, the shuttles ran efficiently.
Pleasing the players also was paramount. This year's improvements, which included a different hotel and larger cars, seemed to pay off. John Isner said he loved the hard court. Kevin Anderson told Bryant that the player's lounge went from being one that didn't stand out to perhaps the best on tour.
The sunken Stadium Court was also a hit.
"This is more of a tour-style," said Mardy Fish, who won last year's event and defeated Isner on Sunday to defend his title. "It's a big court, big fences, big stands. Obviously, I like them [locations] both."
Keeping the players content could take on an added importance because next year's event should occur two weeks before the London Olympics. A tournament with a good reputation has a better chance of luring players who may want a warm-up event before the Summer Games begin. Barnes said it's hard to predict how the Olympics might affect the draw. Bryant said the players, who included several ranked in the top 100, pledged they would return.
Bryant said he doesn't anticipate many big changes to next year's event. There hasn't been any discussion about trying to upgrade the tournament from a 250- to more prestigious 500-point event, which would require more sponsorship money.
The goal currently is to solidify the location, improve the experience for all involved and sell more tickets.
"I feel good about how it worked out," Bryant said.
