Darren out to serve up ace
Tournament chief to foster a community event
RECONNECTING the Hobart International with the local community will be the first goal for new tournament director Darren Sturgess in 2018.
Sturgess, who replaces Mark Handley at the helm of the event and as Tennis Tasmania chief executive, comes into the role in an exciting year with the WTA event celebrating its 25th anniversary next January.
The opportunity to run a major tournament was the overriding lure for Sturgess, who has an extensive background in tennis.
He moved to London after completing his sport management course at Deakin University, obtained a job at the Lawn Tennis Association — the governing body for British tennis — and has since held roles with Tennis West in WA, the operations team for the Australian Open and more recently five years involved with the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff.
“It’s a real opportunity for me professionally and personally to run a major event myself,” Sturgess told the Mercury.
“But also it has been a little while since I have been involved in the participation and growth of tennis, that really appealed as an opportunity.
“When I came to the Hobart International, first I saw a small team doing an amazing job and delivering a great tournament with a lot of focus around the tennis, and there is no doubting the quality of players we have had over the past have gone on to bigger and better things.
“We are privileged to have such a fantastic opportunity in Hobart.
“My insights from working at the Australian Open is I can see a lot of opportunities to develop. One of our key aims is to connect with the community further and re-engage with the community, and present some opportunities for them to see some great tennis but also some other things around the grounds.
“The location gets referred to as the Monte Carlo of the south. We have some great grass areas, some fantastic tennis courts to showcase tennis and gets kids involved.
“There is a really good opportunity to show the local community this is a great place and a really good-value proposition to come and visit.”
At the forefront of the overhaul will be ticketing prices, with free entry for children under-14 and a range of adult ticket prices reduced.
“That’s really backing up our vision to be an event for the community and engage with the young families and give them something to do during the school holidays and be part of our event,” he said.
“We want to make it an event the community is proud of and one that is not only for the Hobart area but for all of Tasmania. We think we will get some quick opportunities up off the ground.”
The Hobart International has a proud history of being a launching pad for the next generation of WTA stars, with the likes of recent US Open champion Sloane Stephens, world No.1 Garbine Muguruza and Australian young gun Ash Barty gracing the courts in recent years.
And while the attraction will remain on securing a big-name drawcard, Sturgess will not lose sight of the importance the tournament plays for the next tier of players.
“In the short term it is really important we create an event that the community is keen to support and want to be part of attending,” he said.
“Supporting the players and providing a great experience is critical. Some of our initiatives for next year will be looking at our player space and reviewing those and slowly offer something more improved for them each year. Our volunteers are a huge part of that — the players have such infinity with it, it is the homely feel the volunteers can give.
“The hospitality speaks volumes for not only Tasmania but the whole country.”
The Hobart International runs from January 7-13.
It is really important we create an event that the community is keen to support and want to be part of attending DARREN STURGESS