Sportimes Give Free Racquets To Kids

Written by: Staff on 8th June 2010

Sportimes Give Free Racquets To Kids |

The New York Sportimes and USTA Eastern section today announced that they will provide free tennis racquets to the first 2,000 children 12-and-under who attend one of the team’s seven July home matches at Randall’s Island this July.

The Sportimes open their 2010 season with a home match against the Washington Kastles on Monday night, July 5.

“Tennis is a fun and healthy game for anyone and we are very proud to work with the USTA Eastern Section on this promotion,” said Sportimes General Manager John Dato. “Not only will these young people get to experience the fun of World Team Tennis at our new facility in the shadow of Manhattan, they will leave with a giveaway that can be both healthy and fun for a lifetime…a new tennis racquet.”

“We are very excited to be able to work with the Sportimes to help grow the great game of tennis with this promotion,” said the USTA’s Michelle Blake. “Tennis is a simple game to start playing; all you need is a ball and a racket. To start playing, all children need is a wall, a racket and a ball. But equipment can get expensive. By putting racquets in the hands of children, we hope to give them a chance to enjoy the sport that we love.”

The free racquet promotion is the latest in a series of fan-friendly promotions the Sportimes, captained by John McEnroe, will stage in July. The Sportimes will provide free shuttle bus service from several stops on the East Side of Manhattan, starting two hours prior to each match and returning to the same locations following the conclusion of each night’s events. For the matches on July 5th, 11th and 12th, the team will also reimburse Sportimes ticket holders who drive to Randall’s Island for these Sportimes matches for their RFK bridge toll. Ticket holders who submit a paid toll receipt, or who show an EZ-Pass badge, will have the cost of the toll subtracted from their ticket price and those who purchase tickets in advance will have the cost of the toll reimbursed on site.

The Sportimes will honor all New York, New Jersey and Connecticut individual and team 2009-10 high school tennis champions with a special on court ceremony and promotion prior to the team’s matchup with James Blake and the Boston Lobsters on Wednesday, July 7. They will also host Kid’s Day on July 11, as well as staging “Moms Night Out 1 and 2″ on July 12 against the Spriongfield Lasers and on July 19 against the New York Buzz. The season opener July 5 will feature a host of special giveaways. On successive Mondays July 12th and 19th the Sportimes will feature Mom’s Night out. On the 12th fans will get the opportunity to do a Q&A with new mom Ashley Harkleroad, and on July 19 tennis loving moms will get a chance to participate in a special event with 2009 US Open champion and new mom Kim Clijsters, mother of Jada.

On July 14, McEnroe and the Sportimes will host Roddick and the Philadelphia Freedoms on Brooklyn-Queens Night, an evening inspired by Roddick’s better half, model Brooklyn Decker, as well as by the borough where captain McEnroe first hit a tennis ball in Douglaston. Anyone named for any of NYC’ s five boroughs, first or last name, or anyone showing up in a swimsuit, will be admitted for 40 pct off. Also anyone proving they are a resident of Brooklyn or Queens will get a 20 pct. discount on team merchandise. If the Sportimes win the match, all Queens residents will leave with a special giveaway item; if the Freedoms win, all Brooklyn residents will get a special giveaway. On July 12, Foley’s New York will present Irish Tennis Night, with a special on court ceremony honoring the McEnroe family as the first inductees into the Foley’s New York Tennis Wall of Fame.

Sportimes’ captain McEnroe is playing in his 10th WTT season. The July 19 matchup will feature Kim Clijsters, playing for the Sportimes with captain McEnroe in her only New York pre-US Open appearance, and facing off against former No. 1 Martina Hingis and her New York Buzz team.

Tickets are available by calling 888-WTT-NYC1 or by visiting www.nysportimes.com.

New York Sportimes 2010 Home Schedule At Randalls Island

Monday, July 5    Washington Kastles (Opening Night!)
Wednesday, July 7    Boston Lobsters (with James Blake) (High School Champions Night)
Sunday, July 11    Philadelphia Freedoms – 4:00 p.m. start (Kids Day, Junior TeamTennis Day)
Monday, July 12    Springfield Lasers (USTA Eastern Sectional @ Sportimes RI) (Mom’s Night Out #1, Foley’s New York Irish Tennis Night
Wednesday, July 14    Philadelphia Freedoms (John McEnroe vs. Andy Roddick)     “Brooklyn-Queens Night”*
Thursday, July 15    Washington Kastles (with Serena Williams)     (Ladies Night)
Monday, July 19    New York Buzz (with Martina Hingis) – (John McEnroe and Kim Clijsters will be playing for the Sportimes)*
Mom’s Night Out # 2
All Matches Begin at 7 p.m. except July 11 at 4 p.m.

*To be televised on The Tennis Channel

Topics: Bridge Toll, Free Shuttle Bus, Home Match, John Mcenroe, Shuttle Bus Service, Toll Ticket, World Team Tennis