Tennis News : Person Of The Year: Larry Ellison

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 2nd January 2014

Tennis News : Person Of The Year: Larry Ellison

epa03884241 Larry Ellison, CEO and Cofounder of Oracle during a press conference following the conclusion of the America's Cup Finals on the San Francisco Bay in San Francisco, California, USA, 25 September 2013. Oracle Team USA successfully defended the America's Cup trophy. EPA/MONICA M. DAVEY |

Larry Ellison, the man whose contagious enthusiasm and clear vision has transformed the annual Indian Wells event in early March from a very good tournament into one so supreme the BNP Paribas Open frankly leaves some of the esteemed Grand Slam events in its’ wake, has been named Bob Larson’s Tennis News’ Person Of the Year 2013.

Four years have now passed since Ellison, according to Forbes magazine the world’s fifth richest man and third wealthiest American, decided being a committed tennis fan was enough to satisfy his passion for the sport and paid a reported $100 million for the tournament Charlie Pasarell and Raymond Moore had built from the desert floor of California’s Coachella Valley.

Ellison wanted to make the Indian Wells Tennis Garden a site that every other tournament looked at with admiration and a certain sense of envy. He didn’t want his tournament to continue with a reputation of just being one of the more successful stops on the tennis tour, he wanted it to be the very best. Or at least supreme outside the sacrosanct domain of the sport’s four Grand Slam venues.

He knew there was scope for expansion and improvement, and he made it known money was not a problem. So in 2011, in his mission to continually raise the bar, he made sure Hawk-Eye line calling technology was in place for all eight of the tournament’s match courts.

More than that he appreciated the top performers merit top dollar and last year, after a considerable amount of political sparring with the ATP World Tour board of directors, Ellison was allowed to grant more than $860,000 of additional prize money across both the singles and doubles in both male and female events.

So every player was guaranteed to earn above the minimum prize money levels per round established for the tournament. Not everyone was happy but that is so often the way in the business of improvement and innovation.

Ellison is a fan of many sports and last September his Oracle Team USA yacht team made global news by succeeding with one of the greatest comebacks ever known to retain the Americas Cup. In just a few weeks his focus will be fully committed to tennis again with the 2014 version of the BNP Paribas Open and the opening of a new permanent 8,000 seat second stadium, a new box office, four additional practice courts, added restaurants and many other features to make the site more fan-friendly.

Tennis News publisher Bob Larson summed up the thinking behind Ellison receiving the award when he said: “He has been selected for his impact on tennis this year by making his tournament a very powerful one. He stepped forward increasing prize money for both men and women.

“He also increased the footprint of his tournament in Indian Wells. In addition to increasing the size of the venue he is also doing some innovative things in the new stadium, such as bringing in upscale dining facilities for the spectators. Attendance at the event brings it up to impressive figures.”

Ellison follows a list of notable tennis names that have received this award. Tennis Channel creator Steve Bellamy was the inaugural recipient in 2005 followed by Peter Burwash, the esteemed Canadian coach who set out his mission to take tennis to every part of the globe.

Arlen Kantarian, arguably the United States’ Tennis Association’s most go-getting CEO of professional tennis followed in 2007 and next year the award went to the one and only Nick Bollettieri. John Muir, head of Wilson Racquet Sports and president of the Tennis Industry Association was honored in 2009 and Stacy Allaster’s work as CEO of the WTA was recognized the following year.

Tennis’s most generous sponsor BNP Paribas was a worthy winner in 2011 and last year for the first time, two of the playing fraternity got their hands on the award, the record breaking doubles tandem of Bob and Mike Bryan. Now Larry Ellison has his name added to the esteemed list.

Topics: 10sballs, Atp World Tour, BNP Paribas Open, Bob Bryan, Larry Ellison, Mike Bryan, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News

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luciahoff says:

January 2, 2014 at 7:33 am

Larry Ellison is GREAT. Amazing event @BNPPARIBASOPEN #court2 #nobu “@10sBalls_com: http://t.co/5903jhPhOp @larryellison #tennis #sports”