NEW YORK, (May 3, 2011)—InsideOut Sports + Entertainment announced today the schedule for the 2011 Champions Series circuit featuring tennis greats Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Jim Courier. The newly expanded and reformatted Champions Series will begin on September 22 at the Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL, taking the highly competitive tennis circuit to a total of 12 U.S. cities over a five week season through October 22.
In addition to Agassi, McEnroe, Sampras and Courier, the five-week tour, produced by legendary impresario Larry Magid, will feature fellow Grand Slam champions Michael Chang, Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander. The athletes will compete for a prize pool totaling $1 million to be shared by the top three finishers at the conclusion of the season. Each of the 12, one-night tournaments will feature four champions paired off in one-set semi-finals competing for ranking points, culminating with the winners contending for the title in an eight-game pro-set championship match.
“We are thrilled to reunite seven legends who have won an astonishing 52 Grand Slam singles titles among them,” said Jon Venison, Founding Partner of the Champions Series. “This is the greatest generation of champions ever assembled and an unprecedented opportunity for sports fans around the U.S. to reconnect with them.”
“Competing against my friends and foes in front of fans across the country is going to get my adrenaline pumping” said Jim Courier. “The player line-up and format of the circuit is ideal for me and my peers to quench our competitive thirst while showcasing tennis to many cities that lack pro tennis events. May the best man win.”
The Champions Series is a tennis circuit for champion tennis players over the age of 30, created in 2005 by InsideOut Sports + Entertainment, the New York based firm which is co-owned and operated by former SFX executive Jon Venison and former world No. 1 Jim Courier.
Tickets and unique interactive VIP fan experiences for the 2011 Champions Series go on sale to the general public at 10am on May 9, 2011. For complete tour and ticket information, visit www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.
Champions Series Tour Schedule:
September 22 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Bank Atlantic Center – Sampras, McEnroe, Courier, Chang
September 23 – Washington D.C. – Verizon Center – Agassi, Sampras, Courier, Chang
September 24 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center – Agassi, Sampras, McEnroe, Courier
September 30 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center – Agassi, McEnroe, Courier, Chang
October 1 – Boston, MA – TD Garden – Agassi, McEnroe, Courier, Chang
October 8 – Phoenix, AZ – Surprise Stadium – Sampras, Wilander, Courier, Chang
October 13 – Seattle, WA – Key Arena – Sampras, McEnroe, Courier, Chang
October 14 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center – Agassi, Sampras, McEnroe, Courier
October 15 – Las Vegas, NV – Thomas and Mack Center – Agassi, Sampras, Courier, Chang
October 20 – Chicago, IL – United Center – Agassi, McEnroe, Courier, Borg
October 21 – St. Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena – McEnroe, Borg, Courier, Chang
October 22 – Buffalo, NY – HSBC Arena – McEnroe, Borg, Courier, Chang
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