After Sold-Out Event In 2024, The Garden Cup Returns to Madison Square Garden
Last year, professional tennis returned to the World’s Most Famous Arena as four of the world’s best tennis players dazzled the New York City crowd at the first-ever The Garden Cup. The event marked the return of tennis to Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2017, and demonstrated unequivocally that tennis and MSG are a perfect match.
“The Garden is a bucket list for players because there’s so much magic in that building for people who perform there,” said J. Wayne Richmond, a member of the team that created the ATP Tour. He has worked the past 20 years with the USTA, launching and managing the US Open Series, and the past years as Managing Director of Special Events including Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. Through the COVID years, Richmond was the Tournament Director of the Cincinnati Open.
That magic of MSG isn’t just talk, it’s exactly what propelled Richmond to get involved. He retired at the end of 2021, but when Jerry Solomon, the founder of Tennis Night Out LLC, approached him to discuss how much they missed having tennis at MSG, it was too tempting to pass up.
“The Garden had contacted Jerry, and he called me and said, ‘I’ll do it, if you’ll do it’,” Richmond recalls. “I was excited to get back into it, and we had such a great field. It was probably one of the most fun things I’ve done in my career, and I’ve been fortunate to be a part of a lot of great things and events in the past.”
So with two of the industry’s most experienced and knowledgeable people, The Garden Cup sold-out MSG last December as Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Emma Navarro and Jessica Pegula put on a world-class night of entertainment.
“Carlos and Ben put on a great show, as did Emma and Jessica. It really did work out great,” he says. “Sometimes you work really hard for a long period of time, and it doesn’t quite meet your standards, but this was a great homecoming. And we expect that same energy this year.”
Richmond is quick to give credit to the entire staff at MSG and the hospitality they provided for the players and the fans, without whom an event of this magnitude would not be possible.
And with that, The Garden Cup is back on Monday, December 8 with another field of players that tennis fans will be eager to see:
The number one player in the world, Aryna Sabalenka takes on four-time Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka, to start the evening. And then the always-entertaining Nick Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, will face off against one of the highest-ranked Americans: Tommy Paul.
The four will then compete in a Mixed Doubles match.
“We’ve had Nick in the arena before, and he’s the consummate showman. Tommy is kind of an unsung American hero who is one of the most athletic players on tour,” said Richmond. “The timing is right for the ladies as well, I think Naomi is back on a great run, and New York has a very diverse community that supports her. Sabalenka is the best player in the world and has a large following, so we are extremely pleased with the field this year.”
In addition to the professionals, The Garden Cup is making sure it connects with the local community by donating tickets—courtesy of Boast—to NYJTL and HJTEP, giving young players the opportunity to experience world-class tennis at Madison Square Garden. Richmond expects hundreds of kids and families to attend the event, with USTA Eastern on-site promoting its Red Ball tennis program, designed for players of all ages and skill levels, leading up to the marquee event.
All of that will merge to create a one-of-a-kind event, inside a one-of-a-kind building. There is something truly special about the winter in Manhattan, and the Garden Cup should be at the top of anyone’s list looking to enjoy an evening out in New York City.
“I think our event kind of hits all the points of what you want on a night out,” said Richmond. “If you want to come out and have a great evening in The Garden and be entertained, this checks that box. If you want to come out and see some of the best players in the world put on a great show, this is it. There will be a lot of interactive fan entertainment in the arena, there’ll be music and it’ll be festive. We really light that place up, and it’s just one of those rare buildings that has a magical feeling to it. Whether you are a tennis fan or just want to spend an evening out, The Garden Cup checks all of those boxes.”
There are an array of ticket options available, including group ticket packages, suite and VIP options, and more. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster and the MSG.com website. Visit TennisNightOut.com to learn more information!
