The ATP and WTA Tours are very close to agreeing to merge their commercial operations, Stacey Allaster, CEO of professional tennis at the USTA this morning told a sports business conference hosted by Columbia University\u2019s School of Professional Studies.<\/p>\n
The talks have been occurring for years<\/a> and largely stalled over the split of revenues. The ATP has long contended that standalone men\u2019s events are more commercially valuable than solo women\u2019s events and thus wanted far more than just a 50-50 split (a 70-30 split was once floated). It\u2019s unclear how this issue is resolved in the near complete agreement Allaster referred to.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now, it\u2019s the closest ever to bringing together their commercial assets,\u201d Allaster said. \u201cThey are on the doorstep of signing and they will become one commercial entity.\u201d<\/p>\n Merging the business units does not mean a merging of the tour operations and more than 100 total tournaments under one roof, though there are scores of combined events. The tours, at least for now, will continue to operate distinct circuits.<\/p>\n The goal in combining the business units is that selling a single media package is more compelling to broadcasters and will lead to wider coverage.\u00a0 Marketing TV and streaming sponsorships across all the tournaments becomes possible, and the data deals (selling scores and other digital info to gambling interests) are much more attractive.<\/p>\n Beyond the squabble over revenue split, the ATP\u2019s commercial structure also is a hurdle. The WTA houses all of its commercial rights under one business roof, WTA Ventures. Some ATP commercial rights are housed in one unit, broadcast rights to just the Masters 1000 in a second, media rights to other tournaments in a third, and data rights in a fourth.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you bring all those entities under one roof?\u201d Allaster asked. \u201cIt\u2019s five entities.\u201d<\/p>\n Allaster also addressed the long delays to enter the main stadium in last month\u2019s U.S. Open men\u2019s finals, which saw thousands of fans not able to get in before the end of the first set because of enhanced security to accommodate President Donald Trump\u2019s attendance<\/a>. She basically washed her hands of the imbroglio, saying the USTA did not invite Trump (sponsor Rolex did), and Secret Service assumed total control of Arthur Ashe Stadium at 10 PM the night before.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur security people were relieved of their duties, and Secret Service took over, so we had no control over security,\u201d she said. \u201cSecret Service, not USTA; three times as long to scan people into the building than our people on Friday for the semifinals.\u201d<\/p>\n Allaster said about 80 fans sent correspondences to complain, and the USTA is addressing those consumers.<\/p>\n