Big Business For Pilot Pen
Marc Debnam
Get a ticket to the Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament in New Haven.
Attendance at this year’s Pilot Pen is up. 20,000 fans have already come to the New Haven Tournament and another 60,000 are expected throughout the rest of the week.
“People are making last minute decisions and they see the Pilot Pen as an affordable alternative to summer vacations and summer camps,” said Anne Worcester, the tournament director.
Numbers, like scores on the tennis court never lie and according to Worcester her numbers show Pilot Pen is on par with last years overall sales and up in other spots. “We sold 5,000 tickets in five days so it looks like tonight well break our Monday night attendance record,” she said.
But fans that sit in these stands every year say the crowds seem thinner. “ The attendance is a little light, it’s because the economy is slumping,” said David Bernard of New Haven.
Others see the bulk of fans but say they’re just not watching the matches. “We were at a match that was a little empty but there are a lot of people here,” said Mike Tarantino of Milford.
It seems more than any other year, fans are splitting their time between matches and soaking in the sights and sounds of the tournament. What makes it even greater are the prices. $10 for a junior matches $20 dollars to watch the pros. Worcester says its all part of the tournaments strategy to attract more people.
Plus, there’s a great view no matter where you sit. “You can practically reach out and touch the players. You can hear the sneakers and grunts, see the sweats," Worcester said.
Posted Monday, Aug 24, 2009 - 10:10 PM EST
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