New sponsorship to help grow game

For Tennis Nova Scotia CEO Kurt Kamperman, a relationship between the Atlantic Tennis Centre and Sobeys is a match made in heaven.

On Wednesday, a partnership was announced with the unveiling of the Sobeys Atlantic Tennis Centre. The Bedford facility boasts six indoor hard courts, six indoor clay courts, six outdoor hard courts and three outdoor pickleball courts.

Stemming from the partnership will be a series of free tennis clinics for children, aged eight to 12, to receive lessons from players and coaches.

The participants will also receive tennis gear, including racquets and balls, to help them get started in the sport as part of their Sobeys-sponsored starter package.

“The relationship and the partnership with the ATC is all about giving back to the community and Sobeys is all about the community,” said Kamperman. “They love the idea of the ATC being a public facility. We don’t require memberships, in fact, we don’t even offer memberships. We are open to the public and to all levels of players. We have everything from five years olds to 85-year-olds playing tennis here, wheelchair players and special programs for newcomers. We are touching all aspects of the community. Sobeys partnership with the ATC allows us to do that.

“We want to bring more people into the sport. Tennis is one of those games that keeps your mind sharp and your body healthy for your whole life. Not many sports can you see people five and 85 years old playing the sport at the same facility, right next to each other.”

Kamperman said the clinics begin in June with a plan to reach 150 kids.

“We’re going to be inviting some local school kids to the facility in June. We are doing this in June because we want to expose kids to the sport, get them some instruction, a racquet and equipment before the summer season.”

The local Sobeys partnership follows the announcement last week of Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, in addition to a partnership in Montreal with STADE IGA.