„We want to bring tennis to even more fans, so we took this step to install a second match court right in the heart of the city. Besides the event location at the Wiener Stadthalle we now have the second court at the Wiener Eislauf-Verein. This location is an absolute highlight which hasn’t been seen on the ATP tour until now”, tournament director Herwig Straka explained during the opening of the tennis tent, which was also attended by district head Erich Hohenberger, WEV president Thomas Meixner and Michael Tojner, majority owner and chairman of VARTA AG.
Open house with free admission on 21st and 22nd October
The idea behind Tennis 2 go is completely new! Fans can enjoy two hours of tennis for only 10 Euro – for practice as well as tournament matches. “During the morning break or during lunch break, after work or just with friends – Tennis 2 Go guarantees action the whole day through”, says Straka.
Tickets for Tennis 2 Go can be purchased directly at the event area. What’s also new about this concept: fans can individually choose how long to stay. Those who want to stay longer than 2 hours can pay an extra fee. The court on the premises of the Wiener Eislauf-Verein on the Heumarkt offers seating for 1,200 spectators. To get a first idea of what to expect, Thursday and Friday (until 4pm) are open house, where fans are welcome to take a look around for free.
“Tennis 2 Go is a great concept to excite kids and teenagers for tennis. This is also VARTA’s philosophy, as we have been engaged in youth sports for years – as partner of the Austrian Tennis Federation, but also by sponsoring SK Rapid’s U15 and the annual VARTA Cup in Haag. As a consummate tennis player myself, I am very excited that the Erste Bank Open are our guests at the Heumarkt for the first time”, emphasizes Michael Tojner.
The upcoming events show how big the Heumarkt area’s potential is and how it can be used the whole year over besides the traditional ice skating. “Sports, music and hospitality have been part of this neighborhood for more than a century. Together with the Viennese cultural assets like the Eislauf-Verein, Konzerthaus and the Hotel InterContinental the place will be a place to meet and experience things, but also a place of culture and sport. We want to do our part to make the neighborhood even more livable”, says Tojner, who presented Erich Hohenberger, the district head, with the first 500 tickets for Tennis to Go, sponsored by VARTA.