Time to Rally: The Disneyland of Tennis

Arlen Kantarian could be the most important person in the history of US tennis whom you have never heard of.

Kantarian, the former president of Radio City Music Hall and a top NFL executive, is a marketing genius. He was hired as CEO of professional tennis for the USTA from 2000 until he resigned in 2008, working out of the soon to be closed office in White Plains.  

Kantarian was a true power broker whose innovations for the open include installing Hawk-Eye, the US Open Series and most significantly turning the event into the Disneyland of tennis tournaments.

Many describe the “Disney philosophy” as a recognition that Disney  is not really a theme park, rather it’s a shopping mall with rides as the attraction. Similarly, the US Open is a tennis theme park with the world’s best players as the attraction. Come for the tennis, stay for the scene…and bring your wallet.

Kantarian’s vision worked, maybe too well which is why the idea of having a US Open with no fans is so troubling for the hosts.  

It’s a hardship to have a virtual theme park.