Champions of Tennis tournament organisers go into liquidation
A showcase tennis tournament featuring former champions including superstars John McEnroe and Tim Henman has been cancelled and the organisers have gone into liquidation. The Brodies Champions of Tennis tournamentwas due to start tomorrow but the decision to scrap the event was only made yesterday.
The event has a history of controversy – last year’s Champions of Tennis event left fans furious when play was limited to a few games after an inadequate roof saw courts flooded out.
Yesterday – just two days before the event was scheduled to start – organisers Serve and Volley said the tournament had been cancelled because the new roof design could not be built in time.
Spectators who have bought tickets will be able to find information on refunds from today.
A statement on Serve and Volley’s website said: “We are disappointed to advise that we have had to take the difficult decision to cancel this week’s Champions of Tennis tournament, which was due to take place between Thursday 19 – Sunday 22 June in Edinburgh.
“Following on from last year’s event we revised the design of the roof covering the court to provide better weather protection. This resulted in a unique and complex design, which required specialists to manage and oversee the build.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances the specialist team have been unable to facilitate the build and despite extensively investigating all alternative options we have not been able to secure a solution.
“We fully appreciate the disappointment this will cause customers, sponsors and suppliers; this decision has not been taken lightly. The unavoidable cancellation resulting from the problems experienced with the roof has resulted in the organisers, Serve & Volley Ltd, entering into voluntary liquidation.
“Administrators are to be appointed over the coming days and will be in contact with all suppliers in due course. Information regarding match session ticket refunds will be available on our website from Wednesday 18 June. We would like to thank everyone that has been involved in the event to date as we fully recognise the huge amount of goodwill and support that we have received.”
Event sponsors Brodies say they will refund every ticket holder who is unable to get their money back from organisers Serve & Volley.
In a statement, the company said: “At an early morning meeting today with the organisers of Champions of Tennis, Serve & Volley Limited, we learned that the enlarged roof over the Champions of Tennis court cannot be erected effectively.
“This outcome was contrary to all assurances given to us by the organisers. The organisers advised us at the meeting that they were looking at options to reorganise the event as an open-air tournament, but we understand that this proved impractical in the time available.
“As sponsors, we are hugely disappointed that this has caused the cancellation of the tournament by Serve & Volley at this stage. We share the frustration of the many tennis fans who bought tickets expecting to see a premier sporting event.
“However, based on current weather forecasts, there is a measure of risk of a repeat of the upset caused to some spectators by disruption of some of the sessions due to rain at last year’s event, when there was a roof in place. We believe that pressing ahead with the championship under these circumstances would not be fair to ticket holders, who bought tickets expecting the additional protection this year of an extended court roof. It is also the case that Serve & Volley has run out of time to reorganise and properly re-advertise the event as an open air tournament to ticket holders.
“Our paramount concern is for these ticket holders. Although the tickets were sold by Serve & Volley, as a gesture of goodwill, Brodies will refund the cost of tickets to individual ticket holders who are unable to recover the cost of their tickets from Serve & Volley or from their credit or debit card providers. Further details will be published on our website, www.brodies.com, on Wednesday.
“Brodies will refund the cost of tickets to all individual ticket holders who try but are unable to get their money back. We are not doing this on behalf of Serve & Volley Ltd.
“We have supported Champions of Tennis for the last two years because we believed hosting such a prestigious ATP event in Edinburgh would benefit the economy, the local community, and help cement Scotland’s reputation as a leading sporting destination. We are genuinely sorry that tennis fans have been left disappointed.”
