WISPA Invests In All-Glass Squash Showcourt
In a bold initiative to support its growing North American circuit, the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) is buying its own portable all-glass squash court.
The German-made ASB One-Way Vision glass court will be based in the United States and made available, at advantageous rates, for women's events in north America.
The new state-of-the-art all-glass court offers excellent playability and superb clarity for television coverage. The WISPA court has the same specifications as the one unveiled earlier this month at the British Open at England's new National Squash Centre in Manchester, the venue for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
The inspired WISPA move has been made possible by a link with LSW Logistics, a US-based information systems company which is sponsoring the purchase.
The London-based women's player body will manage bookings for WISPA World Tour and any other events that wish to use it, with transportation and venue builds being handled by ASB America.
The WISPA women's tour in North America has rapidly expanded from a prize fund of less than $50,000 in 1997, to a projected 13 events boasting a total prize fund in excess of $280,000 this year.
"We have a blossoming Tour, with North American events to the fore, but little opportunity for them to grow and for our members to reap the benefits," explained WISPA Director Andrew Shelley, who initiated the scheme. "Now, we can solve the problem by providing the first glass show court on the continent - thus offering our promoters a really high quality, as well as economical, option.
"We are delighted that LSW see the benefits of a link with the WISPA Tour and their support has enabled us to realise this plan. Promoters are our lifeblood and we are committed to encouraging them at every turn," Shelley added.
An LSW Logistics spokesman explained that the sponsorship will be linked with a product launch later in the year. "There is great synergy here even though we have no connection with the sport. Both WISPA and ourselves are expanding - we are both progressive and essentially both in the service industry. We are pleased to have an opportunity to link with the vibrant women's squash group," he said.
This scheme comes hot on the heels of the launch of WISPA's Grand Prix Television programming which will enhance the benefits to promoters of the top WISPA Tour events. Events in North America which use the WISPA court will be able to join the schedule which has already featured an international TV commitment to both the Hurghada International in Egypt and the WISPA World Grand Prix Finals in Qatar this month.
