Press Room > Press Release
Champions Tennis Returns to Dallas With the Stanford Championships
1/30/2007
Dallas, January 30, 2007 – InsideOut Sports & Entertainment today announced that Champions tennis will return to Dallas with the 2007 Stanford Championships, part of the Outback Champions Series. Four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier made the announcement today along with Lori Bensing, managing director of Stanford Group Company, at Stanford's Dallas office. Also in attendance was William Josowitz, a patient of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which has been named the benefiting charity of the Dallas event.
The 2007 Stanford Championships will feature Courier along with tennis legends John McEnroe, Mats Wilander and five other of the world’s greatest tennis players over the age of 30. Stanford Financial Group is the title sponsor of the tournament.
The Stanford Championships will take place October 18–21 at the Dr. Pepper StarCenter in Dallas and is the fifth tournament of the 2007 Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events in the United States featuring some of the most accomplished names in the sport. The Outback Champions Series completed its inaugural season in 2006.
“We are excited to bring the champions to Dallas for the Stanford Championships,” said Courier, co-founding partner of InsideOut Sports & Entertainment. “Having experienced the passion of tennis fans in this area firsthand when we won the Davis Cup here in 1992 I am thrilled to be returning to play here. This tournament will be a fantastic addition to the rich sports landscape in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.”
At the announcement, Courier squared off against Josowitz and Stanford employees in a spirited game of table tennis.
Bensing said the Stanford Championships will give Dallas residents an opportunity to see legendary tennis at its best. "This is an exciting announcement for those who want to see some incredible tennis. The first year of this series was a tremendous success, and I'm very pleased that Stanford can be part of bringing this signature sporting event to our city. The fact that it benefits St. Jude makes it even more worthwhile. We make it a priority to strengthen our communities, and I can't think of anything that does that better than a sports event of this caliber that helps the kids of St. Jude, “she said.
Tickets are on sale now and start at just $15 and can be purchased at championsseriestennis.com or by calling 214.467.8277.
All Outback Champions Series events will feature eight-man, round-robin match formats with the winner of each four-player division meeting in the title match while second-place finishers in each division meet in the third-place match. Each event features $142,000 in prize money with an undefeated winner taking home $50,000 as well as Outback Champions Series ranking points that will determine a year-end champion. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have reached at least a Grand Slam singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team.
Courier also announced the 2007 Outback Champions Series schedule, which kicks off
March 7–11 with The Oliver Group Champions Cup in Naples. Following the Naples event will be Champions Cup Boston May 2–6, The Gibson Guitar Hall of Fame Champions Cup in Newport, R.I., August 22–26, The Championships at the Palisades in Charlotte, N.C., September 26–30, the Stanford Championships in Dallas, October 18–21 and The Stanford Cup in Houston, November 7–11.
Courier finished number one in the inaugural year of the Outback Champions Series earning the most overall points and winning the Naples and Charlotte events. He also had third-place finishes in both Boston and Houston. During his 13-year ATP career, Courier won 23 singles titles, including two French Open and two Australian Open titles.
McEnroe completed the inaugural year of the Outback Champions Series in 2006 by finishing second to Courier in the overall point standings. He finished third in Naples last year, defeating Mikael Pernfors in the third-place match and posted a runner-up showing in Boston, losing to Todd Martin in the title match. Last year McEnroe also posted an historic result on the ATP Tour, winning his 78th career doubles title, pairing with Jonas Bjorkman to win the title in San Jose, Calif. McEnroe won seven Grand Slam singles titles during his career (four U.S. Open and three Wimbledon titles).
For hospitality packages, sponsorships and information please phone 646-367-2770.
About InsideOut Sports & Entertainment
InsideOut Sports & Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004, by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events in the United States featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including one-night “Legendary Night” exhibitions across the United States and Canada as well as charity events and tennis fantasy camps, including the annual Ultimate Fantasy Camp in Orlando, Fla. For more information, please log on to www.insideoutlive.com or www.championsseriestennis.com
About Stanford Financial Group
Stanford Financial Group is a privately held, wholly owned global group of financial services companies founded by Lodis B. Stanford in 1932. Stanford's core businesses are private wealth management and investment banking for institutions and emerging growth companies. Stanford offers private and institutional investors global expertise in asset allocation strategies, investment advisory services, equity research, international private banking and trust administration, commercial banking, investment banking, merchant banking, institutional sales and trading, real estate investment and insurance. Stanford serves clients from 126 countries on six continents. Securities products and services offered through Stanford Group Company, member NASD/SIPC. More information on the company can be found at www.stanfordfinancial.com