The State of Connecticut is taking a swing at running a tennis tournament. On Thursday, Gov. Dannel Malloy’s administration announced that the Capitol Region Development Authority will vote to purchase the New Haven Open at Yale, a women’s professional tennis event.
The price tag is $618,000. The state will also shell out $400,000 as a sponsor.
“We are in many, many businesses already, including economic development and community development. We see this as one of the ways to support a very vital institution in Connecticut,” Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management Ben Barnes said.
Some are questioning whether the investment is wise. The New Haven Open has lost attendance in the last few years. Barnes also said that it has lost money or broken even recently.
“There’s no question that tennis has not been performing as well in the last few years as it has in the past. But I don’t know if you saw the Sloane Stephens match this year, but she is an up and coming American. She’s a very attractive player,” Barnes said.
The Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale may be considered for other purposes besides the once a year tournament, Barnes said. The state would also consider making improvements to the facility.