• Loading stock data...
Saturday, November 2, 2024
The Best Employers in Sports survey is open through Nov. 6 Learn More

Tennis Grand Slams Reportedly Want a Formula 1-Style Tour

  • Potential union of sport’s largest events would represent historic transformation.
  • Numerous hurdles remain, including revenue sharing and syncing of commercial rights.
Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

Tennis’s Grand Slam tournaments are mulling over a massive restructuring that could not only reshape the landscape of the major pro game, but create a windfall for the sport in the process. 

Each of the four Grand Slams is looking to partner with other top tournaments to create a premium tour somewhat similar to that of Formula 1, according to The Athletic. Such a move would represent perhaps the largest overhaul of the sport’s competitive structure since the formation of the ATP Tour in the early 1990s. 

The move seeks to achieve several critical goals — and chief among them, unsurprisingly, is money. A more collective media rights package would allow a winning bidder to be the home of most, if not all, top-flight tennis and would almost certainly lead to more aggregate dollars than the currently divided rights. A similar dynamic would likely exist for sponsorship, too. 

Such a radical shift, however, would require time to sync up the various rights, as well as striking agreements on revenue sharing among the tournaments and governing bodies. A plan could be ready for formal presentation to various stakeholders by the Australian Open in January.

A more streamlined competitive schedule would guard against player fatigue and be easier for fans to follow — a key consideration as leaders within the sport look to elevate top events outside the Grand Slams.

“We want to grow our premium product, and that’s a fact that we’ve been very vocal about,” Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Tour CEO, told a group of journalists recently in Italy. “For the sport, closing the gap between the Masters and the Slams is good for everybody. Now, there is a very big gap.”

Lessons Learned

A large-scale commercial union within tennis is also designed to protect the sport from the type of disruption unfolding in golf, as seen with the still-unsettled merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. 

The Saudi-backed PIF, however, could still be involved in this new venture given its immense resources, though in this case such a deal would be pushed through more proactively than its golf counterpart.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

World Series Delivers 7-Year Ratings Record, Marking MLB’s Big Comeback

Viewership of the five-game win by the Dodgers soared by 74% over last year.

World Series Game 4 Draws 16.7M Viewers, Up 92% From 2023

The average audience of 16.7 million nearly doubles the comparable figure from last year.

Controversy, Championship Battles Keep F1 Viewers Tuned In

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen had a controversial encounter again Sunday.

Jets Prime-Time NFL Schedule Rolls On Despite 2–6 Record

The Jets are 1–3 in prime-time appearances so far.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

First-Ever 12-Team CFP Takes Shape

0:00

Featured Today

Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Mission Swing State: College Football’s Political Advertising Battle

Trump, Harris, and the PACs that support them are utilizing the sport.
October 31, 2024

The Untapped Revenue ‘Powder Keg’ of Women’s NFL Fandom

There’s a “boatload” of money at stake for brands and the league.
Oct 19, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) shakes hands while entering the locker room after a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
October 28, 2024

NIL Director Is the Trendy New Job in College Sports. But the Role Is Chaos

Athletic departments nationwide are hiring for what’s become their most important position.
FuboTV signage
opinion
October 26, 2024

Fubo’s Fight Against Streaming Giants Feels Futile

Fubo notched a legal win, but subs and stock still slump.

Everyone Wants In on the WNBA Expansion Gold Rush

There are 10 to 12 cities interested in a WNBA expansion team.
Oct 31, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten celebrates with the Commissioner’s Trophy after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in game four to win the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium.
October 31, 2024

Dodgers Winning Formula Blends Underdog Spirit With Big Dollars

Team officials point to an “opportunistic” mindset as it overcame numerous injuries and setbacks.
Oct 18, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) works around New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of game four of the 2024 WNBA Finals at Target Center.
October 31, 2024

Unrivaled Expands While Keeping Seat Warm for Caitlin Clark

The women’s basketball league is adding six roster spots to bring the total to 36.
Sponsored

World Series Delivers High-Demand Marquee Matchup

The hype around the World Series matchup drove ticket prices to record levels—but the Dodgers’ dominance quickly quieted the fervor.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) reacts to scoring a touchdown with Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) in the fourth quarter of the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.
October 31, 2024

Here’s Every NFL Team Linked to Private Equity Investments

The NFL gave the O.K. in August for PE firms to buy up to 10% of a franchise.
October 30, 2024

Money Well Spent: Dodgers Top Yankees in World Series

The financially robust MLB club wins its first full-season league championship since 1988.
Nick Dunlap of Tuscaloosa, Ala., tees off on the 18th during the third round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
October 30, 2024

PGA Tour Could Get More Exclusive Under Proposed Rule Changes

This is the latest move to consolidate more prize money and rankings points.
October 30, 2024

Yankees Stay Alive, but N.Y. Ticket Prices One-Third of L.A. Rates

Prices remain way down for the final World Series game at Yankee Stadium.