Bloomberg reports that the event expects to attract around 700,000 visitors, although does not expect to surpass the 720,227 last year, with ticket sales, especially in the corporate hospitality areas, slower than a year ago due to the recession. It has sold 84 luxury suites this year – the same number as last year, although at the same average price of $250,000. The 2008 average was $5,000 up on 2007.
“Compared to 2008, no doubt, it’s going to be a challenging year, but we are feeling very good about where we are right now on virtually all revenue fronts,” said J. Pierce O’Neil, chief business officer at the US Tennis Association. “Will we surpass last year? I doubt it. But we’ll come very close.”
The USTA said that sponsorship revenue for the event may fall by up to 3 per cent on last year’s $55 million haul.
