BB&T Agrees to Naming Rights Deal For Atlanta Tennis Championships

Written by: Staff on 23rd April 2012

BB&T Agrees to Naming Rights Deal For Atlanta Tennis Championships

Kei Nishikori of Japan reacts after winning a point in his men's fourth round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 23 January 2012. Nishikori won in 5 sets 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG |

ATLANTA, Monday, April 23, 2012 – The Atlanta ATP World Tour event has a new title sponsor in BB&T and the tournament is now called the BB&T Atlanta Open.

The BB&T Atlanta Open will be held at Atlantic Station July 14-22 and is the first men’s event in the Emirates Airline US Open Series. The player field is slated to include former world No. 1 Andy Roddick, current world No. 11 John Isner, young rising American star Jack Sock and an international contingent including current world No. 17 Kei Nishikori, Japan’s highest ranking male player in the Open Era, and current world No. 32 Kevin Anderson of South Africa.

“A solid sponsorship base is critical to the sustainable success of a professional tennis event in the Atlanta market,” stated Tournament Director Bob Bryant. “In BB&T, we gained a sponsor and a true partner in supporting this event and the avid Atlanta tennis community. We could not have found a better partner and look forward to BB&T’s active participation in the efforts of USTA Southern and the BB&T Atlanta Open.”

The partnership terms are for a minimum of three years and include official sponsorship of the USTA Southern Section, which represents approximately 25 percent of the national USTA membership. A study by the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates the BB&T Atlanta Open economic impact on the city to exceed $10.3 million. The tournament is broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and the Tennis Channel, as well as globally via several international broadcasters. American Mardy Fish, a top 10 ATP World Tour player, has won the last two Atlanta tournaments facing Isner in the final both times. The tournament has also featured collegiate players from Georgia, Georgia Tech and Georgia State.

“We are excited to partner with the Atlanta ATP World Tour event and look forward to supporting tennis in Atlanta for years to come,” said Brant Standridge, regional president of BB&T North Atlanta region. “The Atlanta market is very important to BB&T and this investment is a perfect fit. We believe our local community focus truly differentiates us from other banks. This is a significant event for Midtown Atlanta, and with our regional headquarters in Atlantic Station, we are ideally suited to participate in a marquis attraction for the area.”

USTA Southern President and BB&T Atlanta Open Tournament Chairman Mike McNulty said, “As we grow tennis in the South, our section’s partnership with BB&T is a major move forward in our nine-state section. BB&T is a major financial institution in six of those states. This is a win-win-win as the section and the tournament both get a new partner.”

The 3,600-seat stadium court will be visible from I-75/I-85, offering an outstanding view of the Atlanta skyline. This is one of the few outdoor tournaments ever to be held in the middle of a city on the entire ATP World Tour. Atlantic Station is a mixed-use development featuring 12 restaurants, 30 retailers and a movie theater complex. Play begins with qualifying rounds on July 14 and 15 and first round main draw matches begin July 16.

The BB&T Atlanta Open is moving from previous suburban Atlanta locations to the heart of Midtown Atlanta for the first year of a multi-year partnership with Atlantic Station as the new host site. The tournament will be played on three new competition courts and three new practice courts being built on the site. The 3,600-seat stadium court will be visible from I-75/I-85, offering an outstanding view of the Atlanta skyline. This is one of the few outdoor tournaments ever to be held in the middle of a city on the entire ATP World Tour. Atlantic Station is a mixed-use development featuring 12 restaurants, 30 retailers and a movie theater complex. Play begins with qualifying rounds on July 14 and 15 and first round main draw matches begin July 16.

Weeklong tickets are available at www.bbtatlantaopen.com. Individual tickets will be available after May 1.