Should be a pretty impressive looking stadium, and the incentives they are offering should hopefully secure a pretty good draw.
TENNIS stars will be offered a free trip to the Whitsundays as part of a high-powered player recruiting campaign for the inaugural Brisbane International tournament in January.
The Brisbane International, from January 4 to 10, will officially open the new $77 million state tennis centre at Tennyson.
It is anticipated that either the centre itself or the main 5500-seat stadium will be named after Pat Rafter, the most recent Queenslander to win a Grand Slam title.
Eight to 10 players will be invited to relax at the Whitsundays for a day trip or a more extended stay if they play in the International, according to tournament director Steve Ayles.
The revelation comes as couriermail.com.au publishes the first pictures of inside the 23-court riverside centre.
The centre court stadium has been described by Tennis Queensland president Ashley Cooper as "unique" in world tennis.
The centre became reality after the Government in 2006 provided land for developers Mirvac to build 390 apartments on condition a tennis centre was also built.
Sport Minister Judy Spence said yesterday that Tennis Queensland and Stadiums Queensland, the government authority that will control the centre, were negotiating a lease for TQ to occupy and operate the centre.
TQ last year asked the State Government to honour one or two players by naming facilities at the centre after them.
Ms Spence said that part of the terms of the lease provided an option for TQ to buy the naming rights for the centre.
"Negotiations are not yet concluded but should Tennis Queensland exercise the option to purchase the naming rights it would be a matter for Tennis Queensland as to how this right was used," she said.
Mr Ayles spoke to representatives of the world's new No. 1-ranked player, Ana Ivanovic, during a French Open visit last month to sell the attractions of Brisbane's first international tennis tournament in 15 years.
"A lot of the players travel with partners and if they feel they can offer their partners something different like a day trip to the Reef, it might encourage them to come to Brisbane," Mr Ayles said.
"We would take them somewhere off the Whitsundays, for some snorkelling or just relaxing on a private yacht."
This year's two men's Grand Slam champions, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, also figure high on his wish list.
Players will be share in more than $1 million in prizemoney and incentives for playing the event, which combines Tennis Australia's former Gold Coast women's event and former Adelaide men's tournament.
TENNIS stars will be offered a free trip to the Whitsundays as part of a high-powered player recruiting campaign for the inaugural Brisbane International tournament in January.
The Brisbane International, from January 4 to 10, will officially open the new $77 million state tennis centre at Tennyson.
It is anticipated that either the centre itself or the main 5500-seat stadium will be named after Pat Rafter, the most recent Queenslander to win a Grand Slam title.
Eight to 10 players will be invited to relax at the Whitsundays for a day trip or a more extended stay if they play in the International, according to tournament director Steve Ayles.
The revelation comes as couriermail.com.au publishes the first pictures of inside the 23-court riverside centre.
The centre court stadium has been described by Tennis Queensland president Ashley Cooper as "unique" in world tennis.
The centre became reality after the Government in 2006 provided land for developers Mirvac to build 390 apartments on condition a tennis centre was also built.
Sport Minister Judy Spence said yesterday that Tennis Queensland and Stadiums Queensland, the government authority that will control the centre, were negotiating a lease for TQ to occupy and operate the centre.
TQ last year asked the State Government to honour one or two players by naming facilities at the centre after them.
Ms Spence said that part of the terms of the lease provided an option for TQ to buy the naming rights for the centre.
"Negotiations are not yet concluded but should Tennis Queensland exercise the option to purchase the naming rights it would be a matter for Tennis Queensland as to how this right was used," she said.
Mr Ayles spoke to representatives of the world's new No. 1-ranked player, Ana Ivanovic, during a French Open visit last month to sell the attractions of Brisbane's first international tennis tournament in 15 years.
"A lot of the players travel with partners and if they feel they can offer their partners something different like a day trip to the Reef, it might encourage them to come to Brisbane," Mr Ayles said.
"We would take them somewhere off the Whitsundays, for some snorkelling or just relaxing on a private yacht."
This year's two men's Grand Slam champions, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, also figure high on his wish list.
Players will be share in more than $1 million in prizemoney and incentives for playing the event, which combines Tennis Australia's former Gold Coast women's event and former Adelaide men's tournament.
TENNIS stars will be offered a free trip to the Whitsundays as part of a high-powered player recruiting campaign for the inaugural Brisbane International tournament in January.
The Brisbane International, from January 4 to 10, will officially open the new $77 million state tennis centre at Tennyson.
It is anticipated that either the centre itself or the main 5500-seat stadium will be named after Pat Rafter, the most recent Queenslander to win a Grand Slam title.
Eight to 10 players will be invited to relax at the Whitsundays for a day trip or a more extended stay if they play in the International, according to tournament director Steve Ayles.
The revelation comes as couriermail.com.au publishes the first pictures of inside the 23-court riverside centre.
The centre court stadium has been described by Tennis Queensland president Ashley Cooper as "unique" in world tennis.
The centre became reality after the Government in 2006 provided land for developers Mirvac to build 390 apartments on condition a tennis centre was also built.
Sport Minister Judy Spence said yesterday that Tennis Queensland and Stadiums Queensland, the government authority that will control the centre, were negotiating a lease for TQ to occupy and operate the centre.
TQ last year asked the State Government to honour one or two players by naming facilities at the centre after them.
Ms Spence said that part of the terms of the lease provided an option for TQ to buy the naming rights for the centre.
"Negotiations are not yet concluded but should Tennis Queensland exercise the option to purchase the naming rights it would be a matter for Tennis Queensland as to how this right was used," she said.
Mr Ayles spoke to representatives of the world's new No. 1-ranked player, Ana Ivanovic, during a French Open visit last month to sell the attractions of Brisbane's first international tennis tournament in 15 years.
"A lot of the players travel with partners and if they feel they can offer their partners something different like a day trip to the Reef, it might encourage them to come to Brisbane," Mr Ayles said.
"We would take them somewhere off the Whitsundays, for some snorkelling or just relaxing on a private yacht."
This year's two men's Grand Slam champions, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, also figure high on his wish list.
Players will be share in more than $1 million in prizemoney and incentives for playing the event, which combines Tennis Australia's former Gold Coast women's event and former Adelaide men's tournament.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23895570-3102,00.html
TENNIS stars will be offered a free trip to the Whitsundays as part of a high-powered player recruiting campaign for the inaugural Brisbane International tournament in January.
The Brisbane International, from January 4 to 10, will officially open the new $77 million state tennis centre at Tennyson.
It is anticipated that either the centre itself or the main 5500-seat stadium will be named after Pat Rafter, the most recent Queenslander to win a Grand Slam title.
Eight to 10 players will be invited to relax at the Whitsundays for a day trip or a more extended stay if they play in the International, according to tournament director Steve Ayles.
The revelation comes as couriermail.com.au publishes the first pictures of inside the 23-court riverside centre.
The centre court stadium has been described by Tennis Queensland president Ashley Cooper as "unique" in world tennis.
The centre became reality after the Government in 2006 provided land for developers Mirvac to build 390 apartments on condition a tennis centre was also built.
Sport Minister Judy Spence said yesterday that Tennis Queensland and Stadiums Queensland, the government authority that will control the centre, were negotiating a lease for TQ to occupy and operate the centre.
TQ last year asked the State Government to honour one or two players by naming facilities at the centre after them.
Ms Spence said that part of the terms of the lease provided an option for TQ to buy the naming rights for the centre.
"Negotiations are not yet concluded but should Tennis Queensland exercise the option to purchase the naming rights it would be a matter for Tennis Queensland as to how this right was used," she said.
Mr Ayles spoke to representatives of the world's new No. 1-ranked player, Ana Ivanovic, during a French Open visit last month to sell the attractions of Brisbane's first international tennis tournament in 15 years.
"A lot of the players travel with partners and if they feel they can offer their partners something different like a day trip to the Reef, it might encourage them to come to Brisbane," Mr Ayles said.
"We would take them somewhere off the Whitsundays, for some snorkelling or just relaxing on a private yacht."
This year's two men's Grand Slam champions, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, also figure high on his wish list.
Players will be share in more than $1 million in prizemoney and incentives for playing the event, which combines Tennis Australia's former Gold Coast women's event and former Adelaide men's tournament.
TENNIS stars will be offered a free trip to the Whitsundays as part of a high-powered player recruiting campaign for the inaugural Brisbane International tournament in January.
The Brisbane International, from January 4 to 10, will officially open the new $77 million state tennis centre at Tennyson.
It is anticipated that either the centre itself or the main 5500-seat stadium will be named after Pat Rafter, the most recent Queenslander to win a Grand Slam title.
Eight to 10 players will be invited to relax at the Whitsundays for a day trip or a more extended stay if they play in the International, according to tournament director Steve Ayles.
The revelation comes as couriermail.com.au publishes the first pictures of inside the 23-court riverside centre.
The centre court stadium has been described by Tennis Queensland president Ashley Cooper as "unique" in world tennis.
The centre became reality after the Government in 2006 provided land for developers Mirvac to build 390 apartments on condition a tennis centre was also built.
Sport Minister Judy Spence said yesterday that Tennis Queensland and Stadiums Queensland, the government authority that will control the centre, were negotiating a lease for TQ to occupy and operate the centre.
TQ last year asked the State Government to honour one or two players by naming facilities at the centre after them.
Ms Spence said that part of the terms of the lease provided an option for TQ to buy the naming rights for the centre.
"Negotiations are not yet concluded but should Tennis Queensland exercise the option to purchase the naming rights it would be a matter for Tennis Queensland as to how this right was used," she said.
Mr Ayles spoke to representatives of the world's new No. 1-ranked player, Ana Ivanovic, during a French Open visit last month to sell the attractions of Brisbane's first international tennis tournament in 15 years.
"A lot of the players travel with partners and if they feel they can offer their partners something different like a day trip to the Reef, it might encourage them to come to Brisbane," Mr Ayles said.
"We would take them somewhere off the Whitsundays, for some snorkelling or just relaxing on a private yacht."
This year's two men's Grand Slam champions, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, also figure high on his wish list.
Players will be share in more than $1 million in prizemoney and incentives for playing the event, which combines Tennis Australia's former Gold Coast women's event and former Adelaide men's tournament.
TENNIS stars will be offered a free trip to the Whitsundays as part of a high-powered player recruiting campaign for the inaugural Brisbane International tournament in January.
The Brisbane International, from January 4 to 10, will officially open the new $77 million state tennis centre at Tennyson.
It is anticipated that either the centre itself or the main 5500-seat stadium will be named after Pat Rafter, the most recent Queenslander to win a Grand Slam title.
Eight to 10 players will be invited to relax at the Whitsundays for a day trip or a more extended stay if they play in the International, according to tournament director Steve Ayles.
The revelation comes as couriermail.com.au publishes the first pictures of inside the 23-court riverside centre.
The centre court stadium has been described by Tennis Queensland president Ashley Cooper as "unique" in world tennis.
The centre became reality after the Government in 2006 provided land for developers Mirvac to build 390 apartments on condition a tennis centre was also built.
Sport Minister Judy Spence said yesterday that Tennis Queensland and Stadiums Queensland, the government authority that will control the centre, were negotiating a lease for TQ to occupy and operate the centre.
TQ last year asked the State Government to honour one or two players by naming facilities at the centre after them.
Ms Spence said that part of the terms of the lease provided an option for TQ to buy the naming rights for the centre.
"Negotiations are not yet concluded but should Tennis Queensland exercise the option to purchase the naming rights it would be a matter for Tennis Queensland as to how this right was used," she said.
Mr Ayles spoke to representatives of the world's new No. 1-ranked player, Ana Ivanovic, during a French Open visit last month to sell the attractions of Brisbane's first international tennis tournament in 15 years.
"A lot of the players travel with partners and if they feel they can offer their partners something different like a day trip to the Reef, it might encourage them to come to Brisbane," Mr Ayles said.
"We would take them somewhere off the Whitsundays, for some snorkelling or just relaxing on a private yacht."
This year's two men's Grand Slam champions, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, also figure high on his wish list.
Players will be share in more than $1 million in prizemoney and incentives for playing the event, which combines Tennis Australia's former Gold Coast women's event and former Adelaide men's tournament.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23895570-3102,00.html
