Lasers score world's top-ranked woman

Lindsay Davenport headlines the roster for the 2005 season, which begins July 4 at Cooper Tennis Complex. The Lasers, a member of the World Team Tennis Pro League, picked Davenport with the No. 2 selection in the March draft at the Nasdaq 100 tournament in Florida.

“We wanted to get Lindsay,” said Tom Adams, Lasers general manager. “Knowing that she had played here before made it nice.”

Davenport played at Cooper Tennis Complex, the Lasers’ home court, during the 2002 Fed Cup and as a visiting player during a 1997 World Team Tennis match.

Because of her schedule, Davenport plans to play two matches for the team: July 19 in Springfield and July 20 in Houston. Adams said WTT marquee players typically play up to four matches a season.

Joining Davenport on the 2005 roster are Rik De Voest, Rick Leach, Kaysie Smashey and Tamarine Tanasugarn.

Now team officials are focused on getting the word out. They’ve printed 10,000 ticket brochures and 1,000 team posters, with the tag line “10 Years of Smashing Pro Tennis” to distribute locally.

Team officials hope to build on the 2004 season, which saw 12,000 fans pass through the gates, up from 11,000 in 2003. The team expects at least 1,000 fans for each match, according to Adams, who has been general manger for six years. The fan base has more than doubled during his tenure.

“I can remember six years ago, if it was a certain week night and we didn’t have a big name, you might have 400, 500 people,” Adams said. “It’s so neat to bring this to the community because everybody that comes just loves it. That’s why, year after year, we see growth.”

Cooper Tennis Complex holds 2,500, but additional seating is available for marquee matchups, such as the court record 3,602 that showed up in 2002 for John McEnroe’s appearance as a member of the New York Hamptons.

Team officials are preparing for near-record attendance during Davenport’s lone home match July 19.

“That’s the nice thing about the stadium. With the top of it being at ground level, you can add extra seats,” Adams added.

Adams and his staff are anxious to see the turnout for the July 4 opener. The Lasers and Springfield-Greene County Park Board officials are discussing a post-match fireworks show. A decision had not been made at press time.

The regular season runs through July 24, with league finals Sept. 16–17 in Sacramento, Calif.

Ownership structure

The city of Springfield owns the Lasers. The Cooper family of Harry Cooper Supply Co. bought the WTT franchise 10 years ago and donated it to the Park Board.

While the family is still involved – John Cooper is CEO – they generally keep a low profile. For instance, the family business name is rarely seen among the other sponsoring businesses inside the stadium. Cooper was out of town and could not be reached for this article.

“The team is actually run by the city through the Springfield-Greene County Park Board,” Adams said, adding that Cooper helps run the team and assists in draft decisions.

At the most recent draft, Adams, Cooper, team founder Harry Cooper and Assistant Director of Parks Jodie Adams collaborated on the team’s selections.

Team revenues are funneled into Park Board coffers. Tom Adams would not disclose figures, saying WTT keeps those numbers under wraps.

Jodie Adams, who is Tom’s sister, could not be reached at Park Board offices for comment.

Following Lasers fans’ lead, business sponsorships have grown as well. All sponsors from last year renewed, and three new companies are on board for a total of 18 local sponsors. There are additional national sponsors through WTT, such as Wilson Sporting Goods and credit card issuer Advanta, the league’s presenting sponsor.

The three new local sponsors are Mattax Neu Prater, Elite Automotive Group and Mediacom, Adams said. Mediacom is broadcasting two live matches, a first for the Lasers, on July 15 and 19.

Sponsorship packages range from $5,000 to $20,000 and include name recognition on billboards and banners at city parks, on team mailings and on boards and banners at matches.

Other perks during matches include opportunities to hand out items and public address announcements.

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