The Phoenician Receives USTA Facility Award

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) – The United States Tennis Association has announced that The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz. is one of just 13 winners of its 34th annual USTA Facility Awards Program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country. Representatives from The Phoenician will be honored at the USTA Semi-annual Meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on September 6.

The Phoenician has 11 courts, including two Rebound Ace, one Plexicushion, and one grass court. The facility continues to grow annually, and now has seven full-time professionals and support staff working as a team to support a variety of energetic programs for the resort and local tennis community. Some of the initiatives include: a year-round junior academy, 10-and-under tennis programs, league clinics, resort and local “live ball,” and private instruction. In addition, the facility hosts more than 20 adult USTA and regional league teams for match play and instructional programs, as well as playoff and championship events.

"We wish to thank the USTA for this great honor and for recognizing our tennis facility and programming,” stated Jason Purcell, Academy Director and Head Tennis Professional at The Phoenician.  “Our Troon team of world-class tennis professionals and support staff is passionately committed to creating an exceptional tennis experience for both resort guests and local patrons. We are excited about our continued growth and partnership with the USTA in support of The Phoenician's amazing facility as a regional, national, and global tennis and golf destination."

The Phoenician Tennis Academy has hosted more than 80 junior participants in its weekly performance and recreational programs, which run year-round. The staff also contributes many hours to support local charity events such as Tennis with a Cause, Battle of the Sexes, and breast cancer charity fundraisers.

“Great tennis facilities like The Phoenician’s help us to grow the game at the grass-roots level, and we are proud to recognize them for their ongoing impact on the sport of tennis,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “The Phoenician has embraced many of our tennis initiatives and kept the sport at the forefront of their community each year.”

To be considered for an award, facilities must be under the jurisdiction of a parks and recreation department, an educational institution, a non-profit corporation, or be a private or commercially owned and operated facility that offer both USTA and public programming designed to help grow tennis.

Facilities were judged upon the following criteria: overall layout and adaptation to site; excellence of court surface and lights; ease of maintenance; accommodations for players, spectators and press/officials; aesthetics; graphics (including the use of signs and landscaping); amenities such as casual seating for spectators, food services and social areas; and the facilities’ participation in USTA programs.

Nominated facilities were voted upon in the following categories: Public Courts that are either small tennis centers with 2-10 courts or large tennis centers with 11 or more courts; Educational Institutions; and Private Facilities that support the USTA and other “growth of the game” programs open to the public.

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 715,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series, linking eight summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships and helps under-resourced youth and individuals with disabilities, and supports wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and their families.

For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, “like” the official Facebook page, facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta on Twitter. For more information, contact: Tom LaDue, Manager, Corporate Communications, USTA, (914) 697-2352 or ladue@usta.com or Steve Pratt, BZAPR on behalf of the USTA, (310) 408-4555 or stevep@bzapr.com.

For more information about The Phoenician, visit www.ThePhoenician.com.