SINGAPORE, 22 January 2018: Singapore Tourism Board’s partnership in the hosting of the annual BNP Paribas WTA Finals is now in its fifth and final year.
With the five-year contract for hosting the high profile tennis tournament ending this October, the Singapore Tourism Board and SportSG evaluated an extension, but decided not to pursue the option.
In 2019, the WTA Finals will move to Shenzhen, China, in a decade-long deal reportedly worth USD1 billion.
According to the Straits Times, Singapore is believed to have spent USD14 million for each of the five editions of the WTA Finals. The project involved Sport Singapore (SportSG), the Singapore Tourism Board and Lagardere, the WTF Finals brand owner.
Last year’s edition in Singapore, presented by SC Global, recorded 13,000 spectators, the largest turnout during its four years in Singapore.
Several notable initiatives were also held in conjunction with the WTA Finals last year, such as matches being streamed for the first time on the newly-launched WTA Live Matches Facebook page, and fringe lifestyle offerings held in conjunction with the WTA Finals like the Backstreet Boys holding their sold-out concert in Singapore.
For 2018’s WTA Finals, hosted this October, audiences can expect more activities that will boost fan participation, as well as deliver a superior match experience to cap off a successful five-year run in Singapore.
Singapore Tourism Board chief executive Lionel Yeo said: “The BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore has been a very fruitful event for destination Singapore… we achieved our objectives of making the WTA Finals one of the most highly anticipated and successful sporting events not just in Singapore but also in the region.
(Source: STB and Straits Times)
