Professional Tennis Returning to Forest Hills Stadium

Tennis is back at Forest Hills Stadium! Led by US Open Champion Andy Roddick and with Patrick McEnroe at the coaching helm, professional tennis returns to Forest Hills with Mylan World Team Tennis' newest franchise, the New York Empire. Go here for more information.

Picture of the Day

A really cool picture for a rainy day like today of the sun going down behind the West Side Tennis Club on a much, much nicer evening. Thanks to Keith for sending this one in!

2nd Annual Mats Wilander Foundation Tennis Pro-Am

Mats Wilander and Wilander on Wheels returns to The West Side Tennis Club on August 27 for Charity Tennis Pro-Am benefiting debra of America and “Butterfly Children” with rare disease Epidermolysis Bullosa

Join Mats Wilander and debra of America on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 for the 2nd Annual Mats Wilander Foundation Tennis Pro-Am. Play with former #1 player in the world, Mats Wilander, Cameron Lickle of Wilander on Wheels, and other current and former tennis pros on the grass courts of the historic West Side Tennis Club. Past pros have included: John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Jonas Björkman, Thomas Blake, Thomas Johansson, Mikael Pernfors and Karel Nováček. Click here to read about last year’s event in Tennis Magazine.

During the 2014 US Open, debra of America will take over 3 court surfaces at the 100-year old West Side Tennis Club. Enjoy a full-day of dining, instructional clinics, pro challenges, individual competitions, an exhibition match, and new this year, team competitions. Register as a team with your friends or company and compete for prizes! The Tennis Pro-Am is open to guests of all ages and playing levels. All proceeds benefit debra of America's fight against Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) – The Worst Disease You've Never Heard Of.™

DATE: Wednesday, August 27, 2014
TIME: 8AM - 4PM
VENUE: The West Side Tennis Club, 1 Tennis Place, Forest Hills, Queens, NY

BENEFITING: debra of America and the “Butterfly Children” with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB)

BUY TICKETS AND LEARN MORE AT: www.debra.org/Tennis

 

Mats Wilander

Meeting About the Stadium Concerts

.... and God forbid anyone should tell the neighborhood blog. Whatevs, I'm telling all of you guys....

Forest Hills Stadium News

The DNAInfo website has an article today about plans for the Forest Hills Stadium, including that The New York Pops may play the Stadium  (I had heard back in December this was in discussion, so there must be something to it). But the article also says this has not been confirmed yet.

And I don't know what to make of the Idina Menzel part - why the West Side Tennis Club president would say she was going to perform and then it is being denied by her team...

Forest Hills Concert Organizers to Address Residents' Concerns at Meeting

Stadium Grounds

I thought I'd post some pictures of the Tennis Stadium's grounds for those of you who didn't attend the concert. This is what they had going on outside of the stadium itself, such as food carts, etc. Those of you who have been following the news coverage know that the Stadium is now a work in progress. They plan many improvements, all of which they have not yet detailed.

Lining up for some food. This stand served things like fried chicken.

Was great to see Luke's Lobster's truck. Wish we had it here in FoHi all the time!

Their pizzas were extremely popular, and quite tasty if I do say so myself!

The view of the West Side Tennis Club Clubhouse from inside the Stadium.

Stadium Preparations Continue

A reader sent in these new photos of the preparations continuing at the Stadium for the Mumford concert in two weeks. He adds:

"Tremendous progress on the Stadium renovation. It appears most of the rusty railings have been sanded and painted blue along with patch up of the cement columns. Also, the new entrance has been paved and a permanent gate."

Stadium Preparations

Noticed this work going on at the Tennis Stadium over the weekend. I figure they are readying a new entrance along Burns St. to minimize the traffic flow near the residential area for the Mumford concert on Aug. 28th. And lo and behold the old Box Office near the former entrance on 69th Ave. is now gone. This is just my speculation, if anyone can confirm, please let us know below...

New entrance on Burns?

Old entrance with Box Office gone.

The old Stadium Box office has been dismantled

Forest Hills Tennis Pro-Am on August 28

Join us at the Inaugural MW Foundation Tennis Pro-Am benefiting debra of America at the legendary 100-year-old West Side Tennis Club in New York City.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 from 8:30AM - 2PM
WHERE: West Side Tennis Club, 1 Tennis Place, Forest Hills, NY 11375
TO RSVP your spot on the courts, please click here

INCLUDES
• Playing with Mats Wilander, Former #1 Tennis Player in the World & International Tennis Hall of Fame Member
• Hitting with Former & Current Tennis Pros on 3 Court Surfaces
• Instructional Clinics, Competition Drills & Round-Robins
• Pro Meet-and-Greet
• Viewing a Professional Exhibition Match
• Continental Breakfast
• Barbecue Lunch with Beer, Wine & Cocktails

NOTABLE PAST PLAYERS INCLUDE

Leslie Allen | James Blake | Thomas Blake | Jim Courier | Honorable David Dinkins | Will Ferrell | David Graham | Cameron Lickle | John McEnroe | Patrick McEnroe | Yannick Noah | Karel Novácek | Jared Palmer | Mikael Pernfors | Christy Turlington

For more information, visit debra.org/benefits or email casey@debra.org

ABOUT THE MW FOUNDATION
SAVE IT. SEND IT. SHARE IT.
are the ideals that the MW Foundation stands for, not only while on a tennis court but for everyday life. The foundation’s main purpose is to help raise awareness for the rare genetic connective tissue disorder, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) — The Worst Disease You’ve Never Heard Of.™ Mats’ 15 year old son, Erik, inherited a mild form of this genetic disease. Mats has been instrumental in helping debra of America raise awareness and funds for research and the supportive services and programs.

Mumford & Sons Concert Poster

... also reveals that opening for them will be The Vaccines and Bear's Den....

Mumford & Sons to Play Forest Hills August 28th !

I bet it's been a long time since most of the old-timers reading this blog have read a headline like that! But yes, apparently the folks at the West Side Tennis Club have been hard at work restoring the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium and The New York Times is reporting this morning:

At 90, a Queens Stadium Is Poised for a Comeback

"Club officials and a promoter have an agreement to hold 19 concerts over the next three years....
A new entrance will be created away from residential blocks, and there will be a curfew of about 10 p.m., Mr. Luba said, adding that for the August show all tickets would be general admission and would cost $70. He hopes to attract 16,500 people."

Mr. Luba, who scouts and prepares unconventional concert sites for the band, said he took the members of Mumford & Sons on a tour of the stadium, “and they just fell in love with it."

Now I just need to score me some tickets! Here's a link to info on how to get tickets:

US TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT: THE FULL ENGLISH TOUR & RESCHEDULED DATE

West Side Tennis Club Carnival Flyer

Well, probably not a conspiracy against the masses, but just an oversight? Here's the flyer. Oh, and it's not free after all for the general public, just club members. Oh well, sorry about that...

West Side Tennis Club Free Carnival

Was amused to see a flyer on the window of a local business for a huge celebration event at the West Side Tennis Club on Sunday, June 30th, a free carnival open to the public. Sounds like a lot of fun for all. The amused part comes because you'd think in 2013 an organization like the WSTC just might have the notion to email information about this event to the major bloggers in the neighborhood. Nope... When they finally do maybe Forest Hills will have joined the 21st Century along with most of the rest of the City!

By the way, I searched the internets for a copy of the flyer and couldn't find it anywhere. My iPhone ran out of juice when I saw it, otherwise I'd put a photo up. If anyone knows anything more about this event, or has a copy of the flyer, please email it to me at edgeofthecity@gmail.com.

Come on guys! Finding information about a major event open to the public shouldn't be this hard for the local blog in the year 2013!

Things Perking Up At the Tennis Stadium

Finally, it looks like there's some action, including plans for ice skating, music concerts, etc.. I know, I know, you're thinking, 'How many time have I heard that before?' But this time it seems different to me. The article below discusses a gradual move to more public events. Also, I was told a year or so ago that the Club's new director is more open to finding some sensible uses for the stadium. So, things are looking up, beginning with this summer's planned celebrations:

West Side Tennis Club Looks Back, Plans Ahead

It's so nice to know that we've apparently now moved beyond the bizarre plans for demolishing this iconic landmark to turn it into condos or senior housing! Notice how there's no one claiming the Stadium is structurally unsound anymore. Interesting how that idea seemed to vanish along with the developers who wanted to tear this beautiful piece of New York City history down.

Proposals Rejected for Stadium

Seems like members of the West Side Tennis Club have decided to selfishly deny residents of Forest Hills future use of the Tennis Stadium as a center for music, theater and other arts. So sad. So disappointing. But, at least there's still some hope. The latest proposal would at least not touch a hair on the famous, iconic Stadium which is so well-known it was even recently the setting for an episode of Mad Men.

I'm glad the members have at least not decided to just sell it off to builders who would demolish it (to me, that would be as horrible an act as what was done to the original Penn Station. And look how that turned out. Today, you get to circumnavigate claustrophobic tunnels more fit for rats than humans. You used to catch your trains in a palace, a sister to the gorgeous Grand Central Station we thankfully still have today. But I digress...)

I'm also very glad that local City Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz has come around and called for the use of the stadium in a manner that can benefit all of the residents of the community.

Here's the article with this information: Forest Hills Courts Could Be Sold

Oh, and by the way, you're welcome for providing you with enough laughter to get your Monday off to a rip-roaring start. Yes, I too laugh hysterically every time I read that the Landmarks Preservation Commission rejected a proposal to make this amazing stadium - so pivotal in the history of sports in the United States and architecture overall - a landmark, thereby protecting it from demolition. After, all (excuse me, the laughing hurts so much I can barely type), what better structure to deny landmark status too, then a landmark? Ha!!

Tennis Event in FoHi Saturday

Click to see a bigger version And visit evianwrc.com for more information.

evian® Debuts The First Annual evian Wood Racquet Cup (via PR Newswire)

NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Paying tribute to the heritage of evian and the brand's history with the US Open, evian®(a brand of Danone Waters of America, Inc.) will debut its first annual retro tennis tournament with the evian Wood Racquet Cup taking place on Saturday, August 18, 2012…

Latest Tennis Stadium Coverage

Tennis Stadium Eligible for Historic Designation

Local preservationist Michael Perlman shares this very exciting news this morning:

Forest Hills Tennis Stadium Update: Extra! Extra! The ball is closer to being back in court at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, which has now been declared "eligible for the State & National Register of Historic Places" (STATE & NATIONAL LANDMARK!), if the West Side Tennis Club supports it. Commemoration & funding incentives for restoration & creative reuse are the benefits. This is my op-ed piece for the Queens Ledger, so feel free to comment & share this promising development, which resulted from 1 1/2 years of advocacy: http://queensledger.com/view/full_story/17359797/article-Forest-Hills-Tennis-Stadium-Has-Local-To-National-Merit?

Tennis Stadium Poll Results

Well, it looks like the Stadium Arts Alliance's plan to renovate the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, using it for major tennis matches, concerts, art exhibits and ice hockey, is proving the most popular choice as to what to do with the iconic landmark.

Here are the results of our latest poll so far.

1. Ice skating during the winter and music events during the warm weather - 42 
2. A new Farmer's Market - 30 
3. Tennis again, or other sporting events - 16 
4. Demolish it to make room for new condos - 7 
5. A tennis museum - 5 
6. Other - 3 
7. A hotel - 2

Among the "Other" write-in choices were the rather creative: Bodega, Jail and Helipad. :)

You can still vote in the "Polls" section of the blog if you haven't already.

Another Stadium Development

Here's another new development in the ongoing Tennis Stadium saga — potentially bringing its renovation and reuse one step closer to reality! And I love the fact that all of a sudden Karen Koslowitz is sounding very positive about the Stadium Arts Alliance's plan! Suddenly, it looks like we have some real movement on the future of the Stadium. So far I have heard no opposition from the powers that be.

From The Daily News:
Councilman Recchia backs plan for taxpayer dollars to rejuvenate West Side Tennis Stadium

A nonprofit group that hopes to bring back tennis to a Queens stadium that long hosted the U.S. Open may get taxpayer cash for its ambitious plan, the Daily News has learned.

The chairman of the City Council’s Finance ommittee has proposed a public-private partnership to back what he calls a “beautiful” plan to rejuvenate West Side Stadium in Forest Hills.

Brooklyn Councilman Domenic Recchia hailed the nonprofit Stadium Arts Alliance for its vision to host major tennis matches, concerts, art exhibits and ice hockey in the aging landmark.