Sports stats



WTT New York Empire

New York Empire Continues Pop-Up Tennis Tour Throughout New York City with Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus

June 13, 2019 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
New York Empire News Release


NEW YORK - The New York Empire presented by Citi is entering its second year of a multi-year partnership with Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus, an Anthem, Inc. company, that will help spread the game of tennis to children of all socioeconomic backgrounds and skill levels. To promote exercise and encourage healthy behaviors, the New York Empire, New York City's only professional tennis team, and Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus will host four pop-up youth tennis clinics throughout New York City this summer.

"We had an incredibly successful first year of this partnership with Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus and are excited to continue bringing this beautiful game to kids in our backyard," said Michele Cope, General Manager of the New York Empire. "It's so important for kids of all backgrounds to be introduced to the game and be given the opportunity to learn, and most importantly, to have fun on the courts."

Empire BlueCross BlueShield, in its second year as a sponsor of the New York Empire, is the co-host of all four youth clinics throughout New York City. On Saturday, June 15, children from different youth organizations including Springfield Park Youth Tennis, Liberty Park Youth Tennis and New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) Queens will have a chance to participate in the clinic at Queens College. On Tuesday, June 25, Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx will host youth from NYJTL, a not for profit organization changing lives through tennis, education, healthy living and character development programs.

Members of Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program, a not for profit organization providing inner-city boys and girls with opportunities to learn tennis, will participate in a clinic at Howard Bennett Playground (135th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues) on Tuesday, July 2.

Prior to the Empire's match on Monday, July 29, Cary Leeds Center will host a second clinic where NYJTL participants will learn from head coach Luke Jensen and receive free admission to that night's match.

Each free clinic, which will include up to 100 children from different youth organizations, will be led by tennis professionals and each participant will receive a Wilson racquet and other giveaways.

Date Time Venue

Saturday, June 15 11 a.m. Queens College

Tuesday, June 25 3 p.m. Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning

Tuesday, July 2 1 p.m. Howard Bennett Playground

Monday, July 29 4 p.m. Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning

The Empire recently announced the addition of 2017 US Open Champion Sloane Stephens and U.S. Davis Cup team captain Mardy Fish to the franchise's roster for the upcoming 44th season of World TeamTennis (WTT). Stephens will play on Thursday, July 18 and Fish, the former top-ranked American on the ATP Tour, will take the court on Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 30. The current top-ranked American, John Isner, will open the Empire season on Sunday, July 14 and Venus Williams will play when the Washington Kastles visit on Friday, July 19.

Prior to the Empire's season-opening match on Sunday, July 14 at the Cary Leeds Center, Empire players including Isner and head coach Jensen will play with and against fans as part of the New York Empire Pro-Am benefiting NYJTL. Fans who purchase a minimum of four tickets to the match featuring Isner will receive 50% off of tickets of an equal or lesser value for a second match later in the season, some restrictions will apply.

Those purchasing box-seat tickets to the match featuring Williams on July 19 will receive a 20-percent discount for box-seat tickets to all other matches using the special code "JULY19". The purchases for other matches must be made during the same transaction.

After every Empire home match, fans 16-and-under will be welcomed onto the court to meet players from both teams and get autographs.

Season and individual match tickets can be purchased by visiting New York Empire Tennis Tickets or www.NYEmpireTennis.com. Match tickets start as low as $10 for children age 16-and-under and $25 for adults. The Empire offers both reserved box seats and general admission seating, along with hospitality packages, which include food and beverage service. A limited number of VIP tables are also available.

New York Empire - Home Match Schedule

Date Time Opponent Featured Player(s)

Sunday, July 14 5 p.m. San Diego Aviators John Isner & Ryan Harrison

Tuesday, July 16 6:30 p.m. Vegas Rollers Reilly Opelka

Thursday, July 18 6:30 p.m. Orange County (Calif.) Breakers Sloane Stephens

Friday, July 19 6:30 p.m. Washington (D.C.) Kastles Venus Williams

Sunday, July 21 5 p.m. Orlando Storm Feliciano Lopez

Monday, July 29 7 p.m. Springfield (Mo.) Lasers Mardy Fish

Tuesday, July 30 6:30 p.m. Philadelphia Freedoms Mardy Fish

For more information on the New York Empire, visit www.NYEmpireTennis.com or call the team office at (844) 5-EMPIRE (844-536-7473). For more information on World TeamTennis, visit www.WTT.com.

Follow the New York Empire on Instagram: instagram.com/NYEmpireTennis; Twitter: twitter.com/NYEmpireTennis; and like on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NYEmpireTennis.

• Discuss this story on the World TeamTennis message board...

World TeamTennis Stories from June 13, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central