Despite being the oldest women’s-only tournament in the world and one of the most attended, the Bank of the West Classic will have to move out of the Stanford University campus as soon as in 2018, simply because the university bureaucracy has decided to change its policies.
IMG, the tournament’s current owner, released the following statement:
After 21 years of partnering with Stanford University, IMG has been notified by the University that its policy of hosting corporate sponsored events on campus has changed and Stanford will no longer be able to host a WTA event at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium. IMG’s highest priority is to keep the event in the Bay Area and we are working on a plan to do so.
As my photographer Jimmie48 tweeted, IMG was willing to pay triple the rent and the Premier-level tournament has all the support from sponsors, but nothing can be done to beat the university’s decision.
These historic photos of 2017 Stanford finalists Coco Vandeweghe and Madison Keys are now even more precious.
The 2012 and 2017 Stanford runner-up Vandeweghe has been vocal on Twitter, saying:
This is terrible. The Bank of the West Classic is one of my all time favorites. WTA and USTA, how can we allow ourselves to lose another tournament. Come on guys.
American Madison Keys is now officially the last Stanford champion.
The Bank of the West Classic is the first women’s event in the US Open Series and the fact that it has to find a new location already for the 2018 edition puts a lot on pressure on IMG. Let’s see how this situation will develop and how successful IMG will be in providing a new suitable venue.
The tournament is not yet lost, only the venue. Both Center court as well as the outside courts were not fan friendly at Stanford. The people who worked and volunteered there were wonderful.
If no other venue can be found around San Francisco, perhaps IMG could move it to La Costa. La Costa was the nicest venue in tennis until IMG bought the tournament and the next year sold it to China.
American politics can be really stupid at times. Such a stupid reason to have to move a location.
I hope it can stay in the states. Hey if California doesn’t want it, I would love for it to come to TCU in Ft. Worth, Texas. There is a quality tennis facility there. We could use a quality pro tennis tournament here in the Metroplex. We have a venue for every other major sport here. Of course at that time of year it is very hot here.
There are news that the tournament may move to the new tennis complex at San Jose State University, just 22 miles south from the current venue: http://www.insidetennis.com/2017/12/wta-tourney-stay-in-bay-area/
That’s a great news Marija! I hope it will be resolved soon and I hope it will be housed in San Jose state University. It will be an added boost to them.
I just found out about this ridiculousness. I have attended this tournament for many years and am very disappointed in Stanford’s decision.
KGR, they found a new venue in San Jose. https://womenstennisblog.com/2018/01/30/img-finds-a-solution-stanford-wta-tournament-moves-to-san-jose/