$48.88 for USTA Singles!

Craig Sheppard

Craig Sheppard

Hall of Fame
Man, there's a local tournament that is charging $48.88 for a singles tournament. What the heck!!! Has anyone else had to pay this much for a USTA singles event? The most I've ever paid I think is about $35, and I thought that was steep. Are they going to give me a dri-fit polo & shorts and a 3 course meal for participating? What a rip.... I probably won't play it just on cost alone, even though it's close by. I can't believe some of these tournament directors.
 
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goober

goober

Legend
yeah the costs of tournaments keeps going up. Smaller turnouts are inevitable. I probably will stop playing in them. They are becoming not worth it when you can play in a local league and get 7 matches for the same amount of money.
 
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G

Geezer Guy

Hall of Fame
I could kinda see it if it was at an indoor facility, and the format was such that you were guaranteed several matches no matter what. (And if there was prize money or some nice give-aways.)
 
Craig Sheppard

Craig Sheppard

Hall of Fame
Geezer Guy said:
I could kinda see it if it was at an indoor facility, and the format was such that you were guaranteed several matches no matter what. (And if there was prize money or some nice give-aways.)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I could see if it were indoor... i don't know what kind of giveaways they have, but it's just a nice outdoor public facility with 30 courts run by the city... so they could even use some courts for the tournament and still have paying customers on the other courts. My gut feeling is they're charging that so they can maintain their elitism.
 
K

kevhen

Hall of Fame
It used to be about $15 here but now many tournaments are $19 to $23 for singles. I think the USTA is going to keep pricing itself out of business. Team registration fees for winter leagues are too high.

Grassroots tennis currently pays the bills but for how long? I am dropping out of the USTA when my 5 year membership expires this summer. I plan to play with friends, at the club, and at the local university, and skip the pricier USTA matches.
 
racingdad23

racingdad23

Semi-Pro
Junior tournaments cost us usually around $18-25. Some though can be as high as $70. Gotta love the one we just went to last month. $35 entry (140 entries total) two days of play 120 miles from home. Won the tournament got a 5" trophy that cost probably $3. Driving back and forth kept the expense low for this one ($200) Oh well I guess its all in fun.

We'd love to play more out of state sectionals but 3 days, motels, transportation, entry fees = $1000 weekend.

I 've had out of state weekends racing for $10,000 to win and my expenses were less than that. So I understand that you have to pay to play. But it seems a little out of line for kids sports.

Its not just tennis but all sports. I know alot of underpriveledged kids that cant even afford to play local baseball. A real shame.
 
Mike Danger

Mike Danger

Banned
And you know what else sucks on top of it, some of the biggest/most expensive clubs. dont even give out T-shirts. I mean come on, I sign up for three matches, cost me $90, and you dont even have a F$*% shirt?
 
35ft6

35ft6

Legend
Dude, way too steep. Doesn't seem like court fees alone could explain it. Seems like somebody wants to get paid very well for their time.
 
waves2ya

waves2ya

Rookie
Have you flipped through the USTA Eastern sked for 2007 - rarely a tourny w/ less than a $40 fee. And anywhere near metro area, usually $60...

My kid (11) is playing in a lax tourny this summer and fee is $50 - per kid; that's 18 players a team...! What a racket...!

Pays to be organizing - to hell w/ playing...!
 
C

Caswell

Semi-Pro
Tournaments in my area (Florida section, district 4) are generally between $35-$40. I've played four, have never gotten a t-shirt.

I've seen some with higher fees, but they're either round robin format or national events.
 
T

tennis-n-sc

Professional
Here in the Upstate, which includes Greenville, Spartanburg, Clemson, and Anderson, the going rate is between $25 -$35 per event. Some give a slight price break if entering two events. All of them have free beer, fruit, gator-ade, bottled water, t-shirts, and generally a nice cook-out, catered luch or sit down dinner in the club banquet hall or dining room. Many are charilty events and the cost of entry fee is deductible. Most tournament directors tell me, including my club's tennis director, that they seldom make a cent, and if the weather doesn't cooperate, can lose money.
 
equinox

equinox

Hall of Fame
What kicks me is all adult graded tournaments don't guarantee 2 matches. For $25 i expect more than 8/9 games guaranted.

Some don't state the exact venues only the general venue area.

They force you to play "best of 2 sets, 3rd set 10pt tb" format even in open grade.

I'm sorry $35 entry fee + $20 player insurance is too much for 2 sets guaranted.

What kind of tournament offers $750 winners and only $250 runners up?
 
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V

volleyman

Semi-Pro
Craig Sheppard said:
Man, there's a local tournament that is charging $48.88 for a singles tournament. What the heck!!!
Click to expand...

Yeah, that tournament was looking really good to me as well: 20 minutes from my house, hard court (most tournaments close to me are on har-tru) and feed in consolation, so at least two matches.

And then I saw the price for singles. And then I saw the price for the second event: $51.00 per person. Now, normally, I like to play singles and doubles in a tournament, but $51 per person for doubles is way steep.

And doubles is single elimination.

That's right, if you want to play doubles, you'll pay at least $48.88 per person to play in a single elimination event. I can't see too many folks going for that.

Then again, this is the public facility that charges you per person to play, even when all their courts are empty, even if you are one of the taxpayers who subsidizes the place. And these are all outdoor courts.

Oh, and I should mention that they rip off the USTA leagues that play there as well.

As the tournament, I'm still considering playing singles. It's just so close that the savings on travel and food will more than make up for the high entry fee.
 
1

10sguy

Rookie
kevhen said:
It used to be about $15 here but now many tournaments are $19 to $23 for singles. I think the USTA is going to keep pricing itself out of business. Team registration fees for winter leagues are too high.

Grassroots tennis currently pays the bills but for how long? I am dropping out of the USTA when my 5 year membership expires this summer. I plan to play with friends, at the club, and at the local university, and skip the pricier USTA matches.
Click to expand...

Probably obvious to most readers but this needs to be pointed out to some:

USTA does not set tournament entry fees, amenities/goodies, etc. Those are all decided by the host organization.
 
goober

goober

Legend
10sguy said:
Probably obvious to most readers but this needs to be pointed out to some:

USTA does not set tournament entry fees, amenities/goodies, etc. Those are all decided by the host organization.
Click to expand...
That may be true but I have found that nonUSTA tourneys to cost consistently less than USTA tourneys usually by 50%.
 
1

10sfreak

Semi-Pro
Wow, that's steep. We play in this tournament every year in a town about 20 miles away, and the entry fee is $25. The proceeds go to a charity for underpriviledged children. We get Subway sandwiches, fruit, drinks, t-shirt, a door prize, etc. Of course, a lot of the cost for the tourney is absorbed by local businesses who "sponsor" a court, team, etc.
 
C

cmb

Semi-Pro
haha I spent my whole life playing that crap in the states ( im american), but I currently live outside of amsterdam...they have tournaments here every week of the year, only 7 Euro entry fee...around 9 dollars, normally the tournaments I play offer between 300 and 1000 Euros to the winner (450-1300 dollars). Its really a shame what is happening in the states with tennis. They charge that much for entry fees, they rarely offer prize money, and teh traveling is crazy. Here the only way I have to travel more then 30 minutes by car for a tournament is if I choose to, I am playing one next week about 3 hours away, only because my friends live in that city.
BUt it just costs too much money to play tennis, it seems like the USTA could do more.
 
Craig Sheppard

Craig Sheppard

Hall of Fame
volleyman said:
Yeah, that tournament was looking really good to me as well: 20 minutes from my house, hard court (most tournaments close to me are on har-tru) and feed in consolation, so at least two matches.
...
As the tournament, I'm still considering playing singles. It's just so close that the savings on travel and food will more than make up for the high entry fee.
Click to expand...

I agree, it's about 20 minutes from me as well--but I really feel like I don't want to play this specifically to jam the facility and the tournament's organizers. Not that I think they'd miss one player not playing... I just don't feel like supporting them.

You're right, I remember when that facility was free to play at for city residents--that was great. I didn't even mind paying the $2 or so it was for a non-resident to pay there. But then they tried to get elitist by going to that "everyone pays" structure, even for tax payers. I don't know who runs the facility, but they haven't won any friends that I know of.

I've played twice down in Wilson... smaller tournament and longer drive but I'd gladly drive down there than play since the people who run those are really nice and don't gouge anyone.
 
Craig Sheppard

Craig Sheppard

Hall of Fame
goober said:
That may be true but I have found that nonUSTA tourneys to cost consistently less than USTA tourneys usually by 50%.
Click to expand...

I wish I could find non-USTA tournaments around here... just don't see any. Maybe someone else knows where to look in the NC area?
 
bad_call

bad_call

Legend
cmb said:
haha I spent my whole life playing that crap in the states ( im american), but I currently live outside of amsterdam...they have tournaments here every week of the year, only 7 Euro entry fee...around 9 dollars, normally the tournaments I play offer between 300 and 1000 Euros to the winner (450-1300 dollars). Its really a shame what is happening in the states with tennis. They charge that much for entry fees, they rarely offer prize money, and teh traveling is crazy. Here the only way I have to travel more then 30 minutes by car for a tournament is if I choose to, I am playing one next week about 3 hours away, only because my friends live in that city.
BUt it just costs too much money to play tennis, it seems like the USTA could do more.
Click to expand...

dang!! another reason to move...
 
C

cmb

Semi-Pro
and other countries like France and Germany are even better with the tournaments. In addition to the tournaments, there is also 6-8 weeks of club competitions in which the clubs will pay you (depending on level), I normally get around 300 Euros, about 450 dolalrs all the way up to 1000 Euros per match I play, depending on the country :) gotta love europe :)
 
goober

goober

Legend
cmb said:
and other countries like France and Germany are even better with the tournaments. In addition to the tournaments, there is also 6-8 weeks of club competitions in which the clubs will pay you (depending on level), I normally get around 300 Euros, about 450 dolalrs all the way up to 1000 Euros per match I play, depending on the country :) gotta love europe :)
Click to expand...


Yah but what level player are you talking about? From what I understand those would be very high level players if they were in the USA probably 5.5-6.0. Your typical 3.0-4.5 club player is not going to see that kind of prize money even in Europe. In the US there are nonpro tourneys that have prize money as well.
 
C

cmb

Semi-Pro
but the entry fees are still around 9 or 10 dollars and no travel is involved :) and they have tournaments for all different levels
 
C

cmartin

New User
Craig: I called the tournament about the fees because I was curious. They said it was one fee for up to two events and there was a service to use the software per event. There is an explanation on the website now.
 
Craig Sheppard

Craig Sheppard

Hall of Fame
cmartin said:
Craig: I called the tournament about the fees because I was curious. They said it was one fee for up to two events and there was a service to use the software per event. There is an explanation on the website now.
Click to expand...

Thanks for doing that, I should have really confirmed... I looked at the site, but still only playing one event you get charged $48.88! So if I want to play singles, it's $48.88, if I want to play singles & doubles, it's $51. I might as well play both--but still, that's ridiculous pricing for *North Carolina* at $50 for singles, when there are other events around for $23-25 for one event. I wouldn't have any problem if it was $25 or 30 for singles and $50 for both, but $48 for just singles is crazy.
 
Venetian

Venetian

Professional
This is the problem with tennis today, the USTA tournies and club rates are so high. I'm a grown man with a decent job and I can't justify spending money on this sport anymore. I'm stuck hitting against walls and scrounging for competition at the local park. I miss being in high school and hitting with my friends all summer.
 
Craig Sheppard

Craig Sheppard

Hall of Fame
Venetian said:
This is the problem with tennis today, the USTA tournies and club rates are so high. I'm a grown man with a decent job and I can't justify spending money on this sport anymore. I'm stuck hitting against walls and scrounging for competition at the local park. I miss being in high school and hitting with my friends all summer.
Click to expand...

I agree... I'm in the same boat. 30 yrs old, good job... and I don't want to pay $100+ per month to play tennis at a club, which is what they go for here it seems. So I play through the parks & rec leagues and some USTA tournaments for fun. Is it really that expensive to run a court facility? It seems once someone says "tennis club", it's more about the social scene and having a clubhouse with a fitness center & marble counters & wood lockers & a restaurant, etc. rather than a facility that revolves around tennis players and their improvement.
 
waves2ya

waves2ya

Rookie
Yep - here in N. Jersey it is absolutely insane (country clubs, tennis clubs, etc.)...

But check this out: http://www.foresthillstennis.com/

A stipend if you are above 4.5, pretty reasonable rates for one of most classics facilities in the US - and an Oly pool...!

Queens is looking good...!
 
Morpheus

Morpheus

Professional
In the "old" days of the eighties, we used to get draws of 64 or more for all the local tournaments. Today, we are lucky to get 16 -- sometimes just 8! Junior tourneys get all the action.

Increasing the price won't help but maybe it doesn't really matter since the interest is not there anymore.
 
Craig Sheppard

Craig Sheppard

Hall of Fame
Morpheus said:
In the "old" days of the eighties, we used to get draws of 64 or more for all the local tournaments. Today, we are lucky to get 16 -- sometimes just 8! Junior tourneys get all the action.

Increasing the price won't help but maybe it doesn't really matter since the interest is not there anymore.
Click to expand...

Can't argue with that... twice I've had my division cancelled in tournaments b/c not enough competitors signed up. :-/
 
Craig Sheppard

Craig Sheppard

Hall of Fame
waves2ya said:
Yep - here in N. Jersey it is absolutely insane (country clubs, tennis clubs, etc.)...

But check this out: http://www.foresthillstennis.com/

A stipend if you are above 4.5, pretty reasonable rates for one of most classics facilities in the US - and an Oly pool...!

Queens is looking good...!
Click to expand...

Did you see "Dues for playing members range from $1,217 to $7,183 depending on membership class." LOL... $7 grand a year! But that sure would be a nice place to play no doubt.
 
J

JLyon

Hall of Fame
Craig Sheppard said:
Can't argue with that... twice I've had my division cancelled in tournaments b/c not enough competitors signed up. :-/
Click to expand...

Not sure who to blame the Tournament Organizers or the USTA who want their cut of the pie for doing nothing. Also factor in now processing fees that the USTA charges because they shifted to Active dot com and jacked up member rates, it is no wonder tennis tournament participation stinks right now in most areas.
I just ran a tournament 2 weeks ago for $25 entry singles everyone got a shirt, pizza, and had a good time.
 
M

mrHan

Rookie
Venetian said:
This is the problem with tennis today, the USTA tournies and club rates are so high. I'm a grown man with a decent job and I can't justify spending money on this sport anymore.
Click to expand...

Yep, I wonder what happened to those days when you could play for free, cheap tennis clinics, and sparing with someone better than you didn't cost a fee.
 
zapvor

zapvor

G.O.A.T.
JLyon said:
Not sure who to blame the Tournament Organizers or the USTA who want their cut of the pie for doing nothing. Also factor in now processing fees that the USTA charges because they shifted to Active dot com and jacked up member rates, it is no wonder tennis tournament participation stinks right now in most areas.
I just ran a tournament 2 weeks ago for $25 entry singles everyone got a shirt, pizza, and had a good time.
Click to expand...

what tournment did you run?
 
T

tennis-n-sc

Professional
JLyon said:
Not sure who to blame the Tournament Organizers or the USTA who want their cut of the pie for doing nothing. Also factor in now processing fees that the USTA charges because they shifted to Active dot com and jacked up member rates, it is no wonder tennis tournament participation stinks right now in most areas.
I just ran a tournament 2 weeks ago for $25 entry singles everyone got a shirt, pizza, and had a good time.
Click to expand...

What about the beer, breakfast muffins and bagels, fruit, gatorade, trophies, sanctioning, and quality food? Whose courts did you use? Did you donate anything to a non-profit worthy cause? Did you have sponsers? Did you make any money?

We have many USTA sanctioned adult and junior tournaments around here and I am not aware of USTA getting a cut from any of them. There is a small fee charged to sign up on line which most trounamants are going to in an effort to reduce cost. It is expensive to enter a tournament, up probably 40% in the past 5 years, but what isn't. Tennis lessons are up about the same amount as is land cost, court construction, maintenance, and everything else. Enter a golf tournament, running race, baloon fest or just about anything that is organized or sponsered and the cost of organization has to be covered. I have no problem with the USTA tournaments because it is all I know. I just don't play as many as I used to.
 
J

JLyon

Hall of Fame
check with a tournament director because each section/district gets a small amount of money from each tourney, we are waiting for our invoice.
As for tournaments around here above 3.5 it is absolutely pathetic.
 
T

tennis-n-sc

Professional
JLyon said:
check with a tournament director because each section/district gets a small amount of money from each tourney, we are waiting for our invoice.
As for tournaments around here above 3.5 it is absolutely pathetic.
Click to expand...

I have a call out now for our tennis director to inquire about it. I'm sure it depends a lot where you are geographically, but around here there is a weekend tournament every weekend from mid-April till mid-October within a 50 mile radius. All are USTA sanctioned. Most have divisions up to 4.5 and open for singles, doubles and mixed doubles. One this weekend also has father/mother-daughter, father/mother-son, and husband-wife. These can be some of the toughest divisions in the tourney. Amenities include t-shirts, beer, a catered BBQ lunch Saturday, trophys, water/gatorade, and fruit. The draw for the tournament is 185 players in all divisions. About 50% of the players are in more than one event. The singles fee is $37 and doubles is $28 per player. I've played this one many times and it is well run.
 
R

Roforot

Hall of Fame
Craig Sheppard said:
Thanks for doing that, I should have really confirmed... I looked at the site, but still only playing one event you get charged $48.88! So if I want to play singles, it's $48.88, if I want to play singles & doubles, it's $51. I might as well play both--but still, that's ridiculous pricing for *North Carolina* at $50 for singles, when there are other events around for $23-25 for one event. I wouldn't have any problem if it was $25 or 30 for singles and $50 for both, but $48 for just singles is crazy.
Click to expand...

I am often hard on USTA for their arrogance and corrupt management... the way they continually raise prices without giving anything back to us; however in this case, I can see a logic in that this would increase participation in doubles and perhaps grow that area of the sport!
Here in Texas, most USTA tournaments are 30-35 per event. We do not get pizza or beer though.
 
O

oldguysrule

Semi-Pro
Roforot said:
I am often hard on USTA for their arrogance and corrupt management... the way they continually raise prices without giving anything back to us; however in this case, I can see a logic in that this would increase participation in doubles and perhaps grow that area of the sport!
Here in Texas, most USTA tournaments are 30-35 per event. We do not get pizza or beer though.
Click to expand...

We have a USTA sanctioned tournament this weekend...$28 for singles, $23 for doubles. Fish Fry and USTA block Party friday night. Pizza Saturday night. Should be a fun weekend.

The Waco Open Adult Major Zone is June 1-3. $33 singles, $25 doubles. Pizza Party Saturday night. gift bag and nice water bottle to each participant. Deadline to sign up is Monday, May 21st. You should sign up to play.
 
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