Two new courts among '98 changes BY ALISON SKERTIC
The Cincinnati EnquirerEvery year brings new changes to the ATP Tennis Center in Mason, but every year the goal is the same: pleasing the players and the fans.
"The improvements are really paying off in terms of accessibility to the fans and comfort for the fans," said Paul Flory, director for the Great American Insurance ATP Championship.
ABOUT THE ATP What: The 1998 Great American Insurance ATP Championship, a Mercedes Super 9 event on the ATP Tour.
On ESPN:
• 1-3 p.m. Aug. 10
• 1-3 Aug. 11
• 1-3 Aug. 12
• 1-3 Aug. 13
• 1-3 Aug. 14
• 1-3 Aug. 15
• 5:30-7 p.m. Aug. 16On ESPN2:
• 8-10 p.m. Aug. 12
• 8-10 p.m. Aug. 13
• 8-10 p.m. Aug. 14
• 10:30-12 p.m. Aug. 15"And the players are always impressed with what we've done. We've always been very conscious of what the players like because we are a players championship."
This year the tournament has added two courts that will feature practice sessions and matches.
"This will give fans the opportunity to watch some of the top players practice under very nice conditions," Flory said.
"One court will have a regular grandstand while the other will have tables and chairs so people can have a bite to eat while watching a Sampras or an Agassi practice."
There also will be a few other changes. An elevated eating area and beer garden has been added to the mezzanine level of Center Court and faces the two new courts, so fans can sit under cover and watch the play. Also, the retail tent has been moved next to the food tent.
With the new additions, the tennis center is up to 10 courts.
Last year, the No. 3 court was transformed into a stadiumlike facility, making the ATP championship the only site outside of Grand Slam events to have a finished third court.
Court 3 has 2,000 seats and brings fans close to the action with sight lines better than in either the Grandstand or Center Court.
Flory calls the complex "one of the finest facilities in the world," yet more changes seem almost certain.
"Much would depend on if and when we add women to our event," he said. "That's one of those iffy questions, but it is one of our longterm objectives that would have an influence.
"Also, we've looked at doing things like putting on a roof. We'd love to do that but that could be a long while."
Here's a quick look at how the center has evolved in previous years:
i1981: Box seats are added, previously it was just temporary seating.
i1985: The Championship Club and Grandstand Court are built.
i1986: Lights are added to the Grandstand Court.
i1987: 1,000 seats are added, a permanent locker room and media facilities, including the press box.
i1988: Food court is built.
i1990: Center Court was made into a true bowl with 1,500 more seats, bleachers with backs, eight luxury skyboxes and a patio lounge.(one of biggest expansions to main stadium).
i1992: Lights and extra seats for Courts 3 and 4.
i1993: The food court is expanded and 200 more seats are put in for Center Court.
i1994: New administrative offices are built and the player lounge and media interview room are enlarged.
i1995: The Grandstand is made into a permanent bowl. The wooden wooden bleachers are replaced and seating increased to about 5,000.
i1997: Transformed Court 3 into a mini-replica of the Grandstand Court, with seating for 2,000 fans. Also added a porch to the south end of Center Court, allowing upper-deck box holders to view action on the Grandstand Court.