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The Legends Ball Auction to Benefit the ITHF

NEW YORK, NY — In addition to rubbing elbows with more than a dozen tennis legends, those attending the Legends Ball on September 5th at Cipriani 42nd Street will have the opportunity to support the International Tennis Hall of Fame by participating in a live and silent auction of nearly 50 unique items, exotic vacation packages and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including hit sessions with legendary tennis players Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Monica Seles.

The 600+ tennis aficionados in attendance will have the opportunity to participate in the live and silent bidding. All proceeds from the auction will support the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Tickets to the Legends Ball are still available. Here’s a look at some of the items up for bid:

Hit with the Pros

Tennis fans can enjoy a private hit session with Andre Agassi in Las Vegas; hit with Monica Seles in Sarasota, Fla; if bidders prefer to stay in NY City, they can hit with Jim Courier at the River Club. For those looking for lessons from a legend, former Grand Slam champions Mats Wilander and Tracy Austin have donated tennis lessons. And, for fans who want to rub elbows with a legend without getting tennis elbow, they can enjoy dinner for two at Cipriani Wall Street in New York with Hall of Famer Tony Trabert.

Hit the Links

Although tennis is the name of the game, Legends Ball attendees can also bid on unique golf experiences including: a threesome with tennis legend Stan Smith at Harbor Town Links; an Annika Sorenstam Academy Championship Package; a golf threesome with WNBC newsman Maurice DuBois at Winged Foot Golf Club or The Ridge at Back Brook; or threesomes at three exclusive golf clubs The Stanwich Club (Greenwich, CT), Plainfield Country Club and Trump National (Bedminster, NJ).

Grand Slam Vacations

2009 Australian Open Experience including four nights at the Hilton on the Park, invitations to the President’s Lounge for the men’s and women’s finals; two tickets (Saturday & Sunday) to the Lexus Hospitality Suite at the 2009 Men’s US Open Golf Championships in Bethpage, NY; two tickets to the TENNIS Magazine suite with a former US Open Champion at the 2009 U.S. Open Tennis Championships; two tickets to the 2009 French Open Finals. There are also nearly a dozen vacation packages to such exotic locations as Aspen, the Bahamas, Cabo San Lucas, Doha, Karma Bay Jamaica, Knysna South Africa and more.

Rare Ticket Packages

Two Center Court tickets for the 2009 Wimbledon Ladies Finals and Men’s Finals plus a one-bedroom apartment in Mayfair for the weekend; two tickets to Opening Day at the New Yankee Stadium plus a VIP Meet & Greet and souvenir jersey; Meet & Greet with NBA superstar Joakim Noah and tickets to a Chicago Bulls game; a seat on the bench for a Harlem Globetrotters game; Pam Shriver’s four season tickets behind 3rd base at Camden Yards for the Sept. 26 Orioles-Blue Jays game; two tickets to the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Party in NYC; a meet and greet with country music superstar Vince Gill at the Vinnie Pro Celebrity Invitational in Tennessee.

The event, held annually since 1980, brings the tennis world together to celebrate the history of the game and honor some of the sport’s great contributors, all while raising money for the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. A legendary line-up of tennis greats will be in attendance, including more than a dozen Hall of Famers, tennis dignitaries, the event’s Player Co-Chairs Jim Courier, Monica Seles and Owen Davidson, plus Co-Chairs Phil de Picciotto, President of Octagon Athletes & Personalities, Alexander M. Seaver, Managing Director of Stadium Capital Management LLC, and Peter Palandjian, Chairman and CEO of Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the third annual Eugene L. Scott Award to Hall of Famer Billie Jean King. The award honors an individual who embodies Scott’s commitment to communicating honestly and critically about the game, and who has had a significant impact on the tennis world. The event will also recognize Sony Ericsson for the company’s ongoing contribution to tennis with the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Award. Last year, Rolex was recognized with the Cullman Award and in 2006, the French company BNP Paribas received the inaugural award.

For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or to learn more about the event, call 212-843-1740 or e-mail legendsball@hgnyc.com. The mission of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, based in Newport, RI, is to preserve the history of tennis, inspire and encourage junior tennis development, enshrine tennis heroes and heroines and provide a landmark for tennis enthusiasts worldwide.

Posted on August 21, 2008
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