The ATP Finals bring in 15% of the tour's yearly revenue with more than 250,000 fans attending annuallygetty images
With the Nitto ATP Finals set to be shifted "out of London after a 12-year stay," the '20 event likely "will be the last staged at the O2 Arena," according to Simon Briggs of the London TELEGRAPH. ATP execs are "likely to rule out another extension -- which would be the fourth -- to the O2’s hosting agreement." Turin, Italy, is the favorite to "win the new deal, which will last for five years, although Tokyo is also seen as a strong contender." The tournament has been "played in 14 different cities since its inception" in '70, and the "pressure for change has been building." Novak Djokovic, who is now the head of the ATP player council, has been "calling for a move" since '14. With "more than 250,000 fans attending annually," the ATP Finals brought in 15% of the tour's yearly revenue (London TELEGRAPH, 4/17). In London, Stuart Fraser noted the ATP Finals have "proved a resounding success" since the event moved to the O2 arena in '09, but tour officials are "understood to believe that it is time for a change of venue to breathe new life into their showpiece." Turin's guarantee of about $84M for a five-year deal from '21-25, "funded in large part by the Italian government, is believed to be on offer." Working to Turin's advantage is its "location in central Europe," which is "far more appealing for players" than a trip to Asia. It is also "situated in a favourable time zone for global television" (LONDON TIMES, 4/17).
ANOTHER OPTION: In Singapore, Nicole Chia notes the city's National Stadium was "mooted as a possible venue" for the ATP Finals, with tour reps "visiting the Republic in January and given a tour of the 55,000-capacity stadium and the OCBC Arena." The delegation that included Sport Singapore CEO Lim Teck Yin and Deloitte Southeast Asia Sports Business Group Head James Walton also "met ATP officials in Miami in March." Should the event "move to either Singapore or Tokyo, it would mean players will have to travel to China, fly to France and then return to Asia," given the expected schedule (STRAITSTIMES.com, 4/17).
