1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: This is the Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: I'm Jason Kelly and Mike Lynch. We're here Monday's, Wednesdays 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: and Thursdays with you to explore the big money issues 4 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: in the world of sports. Talked to some of the 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: biggest players in the industry. The U s t A 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: announcing earlier this week that the U s Open will 7 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: indeed be played in Flushing Meadows. Plan has been put 8 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,159 Speaker 1: forward and approved by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to 9 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: hold this year's competition without fans. Joining us to discuss 10 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: this and so much more. Tell us how it all 11 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: came together. Is our friend U S t A. Billy 12 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 1: gene King National Tennis Center Chief Operating Officer, Danny Zausner. Danny, 13 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: welcome back to the show. Well, thank you so much 14 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: for having me so what a week. Tell us about 15 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 1: sort of the moment where you guys decided, and there 16 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:49,319 Speaker 1: was there was a lot leading up to it, but 17 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: where you said, all right, this is gonna be a go. Frankly, 18 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: over the past three and a half months, we've been 19 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: looking at about twelve different options, and in the beginning 20 00:00:58,120 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: of May we started talking to the folks in the 21 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: government his office, because it was made clear to us 22 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,479 Speaker 1: that the Governor's office would be controlling all decisions about 23 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 1: sporting events, not at the city level, but at the 24 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,119 Speaker 1: state level. And we knew that we had to submit 25 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: to them and a medical and operations plan, and we 26 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: have been putting that together with our medical advisory group, 27 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: and we're able to get that plan submitted to them 28 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: by June one, which is what we had promised speaking 29 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: to them in May, and frankly, being in Phase one 30 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: in New York City, we knew that we really couldn't 31 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: sumit a plan that talked about full attendants from fans 32 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: because that wouldn't be still Phase four and I think 33 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,119 Speaker 1: we're all pretty confident right now that that probably won't 34 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: happen until we have a vaccine. So we had to 35 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 1: submit a plan that was going to be just no 36 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: fans and to be in an international broadcast. And thankfully 37 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 1: I got a phone call from the Governor's office on 38 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: my drive to work Tuesday morning saying the Governor is 39 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 1: ready to approve the plan as is. So we were 40 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: thrilled and now we're off to the racism. So Danny, 41 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: I want to be the logistics guy here on what 42 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: the fans can expect to see. You're going to see 43 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: two competitors out there. Obviously in the singles matches, will 44 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 1: there be an umpire in the chair or about line 45 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: judges and ball boys and ball girls, Mike. So the 46 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: way it's gonna work is on our two main show courts, 47 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: Arthur Ash Stadium and Lewis Armstrong Stadium, you'll see for 48 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: the most part of full contingent of of what you 49 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 1: would see during the US Open. You'll see ball persons 50 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: out there this year because of COVID. What we're gonna 51 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:14,399 Speaker 1: do is the ball persons will only be eighteen and over, 52 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,839 Speaker 1: they'll be wearing gloves, they'll have face max on. Their 53 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: interaction with the players will be extremely limited. Uh. We 54 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: will have a line judge on every single court, and 55 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 1: as I mentioned on Ash and Armstrong, there will be 56 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 1: some line judges. We're gonna use electronic line calling on 57 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: all of our field courts, so you'll see a lot 58 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 1: of what you would anticipate seeing at a traditional US Open. 59 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: And you'll see some kind of new electronic gadgetry on 60 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 1: some of the field courts as well, stuff that will 61 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: be testing out potentially for the future, and obviously you're 62 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 1: going to get it. It feels like a little bit 63 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: of a trial run or a preview of some sort 64 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: because you've essentially created a double header with the Western 65 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: and Southern Open, uh, moving it from Ohio to New York, 66 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 1: that you know preceding couple of weeks. Tell us about 67 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: what that decision and sort of what you expect to 68 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,679 Speaker 1: see from that. So the Cincinnati event, the Western Southern Open, 69 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: is part of the US Open series, something that we're 70 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: a part of every year. Unfortunately, this year there was 71 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: really no logistical way to make that happen in Cincinnati, 72 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: and to try to really make it so that the 73 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: players were able to play competitive matches before the US 74 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: Open and not just have them come out here for practice. 75 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: We came up with the idea of moving the event 76 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: to New York and host in that event here. It 77 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: won't be a trial run for US. Jason. The big 78 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: thing for US is we want to make the players 79 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 1: when they're playing in the Sinsing event the Western Southern Open, 80 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: feel like they're at their traditional Western Southern Open, So 81 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: we won't be experimenting while they're out here. It'll be 82 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: good to go for that moment, and obviously it's great 83 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: for the players that they will be practicing and playing 84 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: competitive matches and getting paid for it before August thirty 85 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: first comes for the main draw. Another logistical question, Danny, 86 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 1: at all the local clubs around here where they play tennis, 87 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: I get all these memos and emails, and and I'm 88 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: a sportscaster in Boston. We've been a couple of these stories. 89 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: Players have to use different tennis balls. If I'm playing 90 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 1: a Pen one while my opponent's got to play like 91 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: a Wilson two or something like that. Will the players, 92 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: Will each player be playing their own separate tennis balls 93 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: or brand of balls, or what will all? What will 94 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: all balls being played like they are in normal matches. 95 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: So it's a great question. The two parts that our 96 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: court surface that we use at the US Open as 97 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: a lake Hold surface, and it is a specific speed 98 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: of play that we use. It's a traditionally it's a 99 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: pretty much a fast speed. And the Cincinnati event, the 100 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 1: US Open series events also use the lake Hold products 101 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: for the court itself. The US Open is a partner 102 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: with Wilson. Wilson provides all the balls for the US 103 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,799 Speaker 1: Open and thankfully Willson provides all the balls for the 104 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 1: Western and Southern Open as well, So the players will 105 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: be playing with the same balls at the Cincinnati event 106 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: as they will with the U s Open, and obviously 107 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: they'll be playing the same court speed since both of 108 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: those tournaments will be hosted here in Flushing Meadows. But 109 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: in a particular match, are you going to delineate sort 110 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: of between who's serving and who's receiving in terms of 111 00:04:57,720 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: what balls are being used? Are the same ball is 112 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,159 Speaker 1: going to be Yes, As as the governing body for 113 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: the country, we've kind of instituted this whole idea for 114 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: that tennis is such a safe sport to play because 115 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: of a great distance between the players and the same 116 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: thing with the balls. We're telling people, when you go 117 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 1: to play tennis recreationally outdoors right now, you bring two 118 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,039 Speaker 1: cans of balls, one for each side, and when the 119 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: player on one side, if he happens to end up 120 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: with the ball that the other players serving with, just 121 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: kick it back to the other side. In our case, 122 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: we have ball persons that will be out there and 123 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 1: they'll actually be the ones picking up the balls with 124 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: their gloves and giving it back to the players. So 125 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: both sets of players will have their own balls when 126 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:32,799 Speaker 1: they're serving. Can I ask a dumb follow up question, 127 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: how do you tell they'll be labeled interesting? Not a 128 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: dumb question at all, now, I mean and and it's 129 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: imparted just as Mike was saying. You know, I'm a 130 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: tennis player. My my wife and one of my sons 131 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: are very serious tennis players, and you know they've been 132 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: going through all of these exact same imaginations. To me, 133 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 1: they're thrilled because, as you've sort of alluded to, this 134 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:55,559 Speaker 1: is a good sport for social distancing in some ways. 135 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: Absolutely a singles and doubles, you know, the tennis courts 136 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: and twenty feet long, so talk about your social distancing. 137 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:04,119 Speaker 1: It's it's perfect for that. And I will tell you listen, 138 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: I mentioned that we have this medical and operations plan 139 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 1: and we we we feel very strongly about it. But 140 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: you know, as they say, during this whole pandemic, everything 141 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: is very fluid, and I'm sure we'll have to continue 142 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: to make changes. Hopefully we thought about virtually everything, but 143 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure we've missed some things and we'll have to 144 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: play catch up as we go. So Danny, you know, 145 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: we talked a lot about sort of how this is 146 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 1: going to work for the players, how you're going to 147 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 1: pull this off. I do want to ask you, though 148 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: it is one of my favorite things to do every year, 149 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 1: to come and to broadcast from there, and then also 150 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: to go at different times as a fan. I mean, 151 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: how do you, as someone who runs this thing, get 152 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: your head around a spectator lists us open. I'll tell 153 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: you I walked the site every single day and your 154 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: spot on, Jason, It's it's very emotional for us that 155 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,119 Speaker 1: are dealing with this event to think about the fact 156 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: that while we'll have the players here in that camarade 157 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: for the players, that we won't have those eight hundred 158 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 1: thousand plus fans out here over the course of you 159 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 1: know what, traditionally our three week event. What we have 160 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 1: to do is work with our broadcast partners all over 161 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: the world to ensure that what they're delivering on TV 162 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: and I know they're gonna do it is gonna be 163 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: something special, It will be unique, and then make the 164 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: fans feel like they're actually in the stadium for those 165 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: who come out during the event, but on site, it's 166 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: gonna feel eerie every day of the tournament while we're 167 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: walking around out here and we're here in the tennis 168 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: bowl and the smack of the tennis bowl, but not 169 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: here in the roar of the crowd after every incredible shot. 170 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: A lot of the players travel with an entourage. They've 171 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: traveled with their coaches, they travel with their therapists, their trainers, 172 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: their family, etcetera, etcetera. What kind of limitations do you 173 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: have to impose on the players. So what we're trying 174 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: to do is make sure that all the players are 175 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: staying in one or potentially no more than two hotels, 176 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 1: so that way we can manage their travel from their 177 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: hotels to the stadium. We can kind of keep them 178 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: I don't want to say sequestered there, but create an 179 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: environment for them in the hotel feels a little bit 180 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: like an Olympic village, but also at the same time 181 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: ensure that when they're here that they're not going out 182 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: in New York City every night. We know they have 183 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 1: to get tested before they come. They'll be getting tested 184 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: on a weekly basis, and we just have to make 185 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: sure that it's the right environment for them. As far 186 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: as the entourage is concerned. We've told the players that 187 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: they're all entitled to plus one that we can offer 188 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: them two rooms for every single player. There's two hundred 189 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: and fifty six players just in the singles alone. Uh, 190 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: there are some players who probably will have larger entourages. 191 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: There may be some players that don't have an entourage 192 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 1: at all. So if they have two rooms and and 193 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: they want to double up in one of the rooms, 194 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: and some players might have you know, player plus two 195 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: or possibly even player plus three. So Danny, I have 196 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: to ask you, this is the business of sports after all. 197 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: In addition to the cheering and the roar of the crowd, 198 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:43,679 Speaker 1: and and all of that empty suites, nobody you know, 199 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: buying their gray Goose cocktails, nobody picking up merch, at 200 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 1: least on site. What are the economic implications of this? 201 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: If you can share that with us. It's not pretty, 202 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: but it's still makes sense to host the event for us. 203 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 1: You know, we have three sources of revenues from the 204 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: US Open, broadcast, sponsorship, and ticket sales. Needless to say, 205 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: the potential for a hundred and forty million dollars and 206 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 1: ticket sales will not be happening at all this year. 207 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,319 Speaker 1: We will lie exclusively on the broadcast revenues and some 208 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 1: percentage of the sponsorship revenues. Obviously, our sponsors are as 209 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: excited about the activation on site with those eight hundred 210 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:23,319 Speaker 1: thousand sands as they are from the broadcast UM. So 211 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: what's going to happen this year is we are probably 212 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:30,680 Speaker 1: looking at seeing about of our overall revenues that we 213 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 1: would have budgeted for this year. We just finished the 214 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 1: six million dollar renovation of the site. We have a 215 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: debt service of about forty five million dollars this year 216 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 1: in in in perpetuity. We know that we'll be able 217 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: to cover the debt service, and frankly, we have a 218 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 1: rainy day fund. We didn't want to use it. We'd 219 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: like to keep it invested in the market. So we'll 220 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: tip into that rainy day fund to help us get 221 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: through this year and hope that we come back really 222 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: strong one with uh, you know, with a fan filled 223 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: US Open any other than the Olympics, and nothing compares 224 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: to the open and closing ceremonies of the of the 225 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 1: US Open. And obviously there's a lot of people on 226 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: the court that are standing very close to each other. 227 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: Will you modify that or you just scrap it? I 228 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 1: wouldn't there right now, We'll scrap it. We we know 229 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,199 Speaker 1: that much like the broadcast, things will have to be different, 230 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 1: and we got to figure that stuff out. You know, 231 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 1: it was only about four weeks ago where we decided 232 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: pencils down on eleven scenarios and focus exclusively on the 233 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: no fan scenario. And during the last four weeks it's 234 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:32,719 Speaker 1: all about people within our tournament operations group on the 235 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: phone every day with the A t P and the 236 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,559 Speaker 1: w t A, the men's and women's tours to find 237 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: out how we can make this conducive for the players 238 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: to want to be here and then at the same 239 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: time that state approval. And now we've got about six 240 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,559 Speaker 1: weeks to figure it all out, including the stuff that 241 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: you're asking us, Danny, tell us about those chats with 242 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: the tours and the players and obviously you know, huge 243 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: news this week that Serena Williams is going to play. 244 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 1: You know, Roger Fetter had already said that, you know, 245 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: he was out for the season knowing to an injury. 246 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: But help us understand what their big concerns were, obviously 247 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,960 Speaker 1: health and safety, but take us inside that if you 248 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: can a little bit, so you know, the unique thing 249 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: about tennis and the Grand Slams as opposed to the 250 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: traditional American sports that you're hearing a lot about those 251 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: negotiations right now with MLB and the NBA and NHL. 252 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 1: Is within our game, we're talking about more than seventy 253 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: of the players are coming from outside the United States. 254 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: So when they hear about quarantine and when they've been 255 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: reading for the last three months about the devastation of 256 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: what's going on in the United States, they're there. They're 257 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: concerns and it's understandable. The great news for us is 258 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:37,680 Speaker 1: when we look at the data right now, New York 259 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: is it was number one last week in terms of 260 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: the number of cases, and it's kind of about number 261 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:45,719 Speaker 1: four this week. But you know, New York City right 262 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:47,439 Speaker 1: now is in a really good place and hopefully it 263 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: continues to get better. But the players have been asking, 264 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,959 Speaker 1: you know, Mike had already asked us about the entourages. 265 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:54,839 Speaker 1: So that's a concern for them. Some players come with 266 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,439 Speaker 1: an entourage seven to ten people, and we need to 267 00:11:57,480 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: be able to control the environment as much as we 268 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 1: can based on what we know today. If it gets 269 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: a lot better in August, we might be able to 270 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:05,839 Speaker 1: loosen the strings a little bit. But that was a 271 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 1: big thing for them, how are they getting into the country. 272 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: The players usually have a visa issue that they deal 273 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: with all the time. We've been working with the federal government. 274 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: Andrew Giuliani is heading that test force up to the 275 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 1: President in terms of visa ability for with homeland security. So, 276 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,439 Speaker 1: as I mentioned with the seven hundred, we've got about 277 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: five hundred players and entourage that we need to get 278 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: into the country. So those are big concerns for the players. 279 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: Underneath the stands and your great stadiums down there, it's 280 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 1: almost the tunnels are almost like those in a submarine. 281 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: When you see the TV cameras going through and and 282 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,079 Speaker 1: people are often shoulder to shoulder when they walk by. 283 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 1: They're gonna have to, like traffic cops down they're gonna 284 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:44,839 Speaker 1: have to modify no entry here where you're allowed to 285 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 1: go one way, you know, put arrows on the floor 286 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: like they do in grocery stores. A matter of fact, 287 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: you know, you're seeing what you see on TV. But 288 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: that's the same issue for us in locker rooms and 289 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: many training facilities on the grounds. Uh. One of the 290 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:02,599 Speaker 1: sad realities for us with not having fans here is 291 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 1: it opens up a lot of new opportunities for us 292 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: in terms of creating extra spaces for the players. So 293 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 1: places that may have been restaurants in previous years will 294 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: all be cleared out and become new stretching areas for 295 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 1: the players. We're taking our suites and Arthurs Stadium and 296 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: turning those into private lounges for each of the players. 297 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: So we have thirty two seeded players and we're gonna 298 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 1: take sixty four suits so that you know, the top 299 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: sixty four players between men's and women's tours will have 300 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 1: their own individual suits. When they don't want to be 301 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: in a locker room, we're out on a tennis court. 302 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: So those are all the types of changes we need 303 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:33,680 Speaker 1: to make, Mike, to make sure that we can meet 304 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: the guidelines we have established with the state and make 305 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,679 Speaker 1: the players and those who are working here I feel 306 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: very secure. Danny, just one more question before we let 307 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: you go, and and it's almost philosophical, but I mean, 308 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: what's this been like for you? I mean, I have 309 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 1: to imagine it's been a lot of ups and downs, 310 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 1: a lot of determination, you know, dealing with your team 311 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: and dealing with your team. I would imagine more or 312 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 1: less remotely in in in many cases as you look 313 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: back on the on the past, you know, ten twelve weeks, 314 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: how does it feel? Well? You know, we feel like 315 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: we were able to take a deep breath for about 316 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: five minutes yesterday after the announcement, and now we've got 317 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: to get right back into it. It's ironic because we 318 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,440 Speaker 1: were on the phone with you back in March talking 319 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 1: about turning the tennis Center into a COVID hospital to 320 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 1: help support the local community, and at that time we 321 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: had five months to go for the open and thankfully 322 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: the hospital gave us back the keys last Friday after 323 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: they cleared out of there, and so now we could 324 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: be solely back in the tennis business. New York City 325 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 1: goes into Phase two on Monday, so we're gonna be 326 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: able to start recreational tennis programs outdoors here on Monday, 327 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: and that's going to feel incredible to see people out 328 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 1: on the courts. And we're gonna be so buried in 329 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 1: putting the plans together over the next six plus weeks 330 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: that we won't really get enough chance to take a 331 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 1: deep breath again until September fourteen. Well, best of luck 332 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: to you. It is really something to behold and I 333 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: think very exciting for a lot of us who are 334 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: so such a big fans scadily the U s UP. 335 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, I moved here almost fifteen years ago, 336 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: and I have to say a and I've said it 337 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 1: on air, I've said it on site there. It is 338 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: the quintessential New York event in many ways, So best 339 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: of luck to you in pulling it off. That is 340 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: Danny Zausner. He is the chief operating officer of the 341 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 1: U s T A Billy gen King National Tennis Center 342 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: of Jason Kelly follow me on Twitter at Jason Kelly 343 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: News and you can follow me on Twitter at Lynch 344 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 1: e w CBB. We're here every week at this time. 345 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: Catch our Apple podcasts that includes extended versions of this 346 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: and all of our interviews that drops every Monday, Wednesday 347 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 1: and Thursday. You're listening to Blueberg Business of Sports from 348 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 1: Blueberg Radio around the world.