According to Allaster, the tour has attracted nearly US$75 million in new and renewed sponsorship deals this year despite a shortened campaign. The WTA CEO also told the Associated Press that the Association has been able to “unlock” new commercial opportunities after Sony Ericsson downsized its $88 million title sponsorship of the body to become a global partner through to 2013.
“We have surpassed in revenues what we had under the old model,” she said. “We're in a good place.” The WTA is also close to signing two more commercial deals, including title sponsorship for its year-end championships to be held in Istanbul over the next three years, with Allaster saying a “verbal” agreement was in place.
Allaster added that the WTA is concentrating on boosting the brand of the body in foreign markets and particularly in China, where the Association has set up an office. “China remains front and centre,” she said.
However, the head of the WTA admitted that the loss of the Association’s president, David Shoemaker, to the National Basketball Association (NBA) was “a big loss”.
