League Notes

Tennis Exec Says Colorful Fans Integral Part Of Australian Open

In Sydney, Margie McDonald reports there are concerns at the Australian Open that tennis is “being turned into a football-match style atmosphere.” Tennis Australia spokesperson John Lindsay said, “Colourful fans and great atmosphere are a core part of the Australian Open. We did receive complaints from some patrons last night who were seated around groups of fans singing and dancing. And we did have to re-locate a number of those. ... Not all patrons are a fan of large groups” (THE AUSTRALIAN, 1/26).

AVP TOUR: The Atlanta Sports Council announced a three-year deal with the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour to host an AVP Tour event, beating out Austin, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and San Diego. The Sports Council will create eight beach volleyball courts in a 4,000-seat temporary stadium for this year’s event, to be held July 6-9 at Atlantic Station (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 1/26).

ECHL: The Pro Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) and the ECHL BOG have ratified the major points of a three-year extension of their CBA. Those points include: year-over-year cost of living increases; an “enhanced procedure to deliver timely, professional care of injured players”; and a commitment to provide assistance for the PHPA Career Enhancement Program, which will “assist players with their transition to life after hockey.” The extension will take effect June 1 (ECHL).