Southland connection: Invercargill's 19-year Davis Cup wait over
“I knew, clearly, the venue down here at Stadium Southland, so I threw that into the pot along with the other options [for the Davis Cup]."
THE LOWDOWN
What: NZ v Thailand Davis Cup tennis
Where: ILT Stadium Southland
When: Friday from 4pm - (two singles matches), Saturday from 12pm (One doubles and one or two singles matches).
Tennis New Zealand CEO Julie Paterson knew there was a venue that needed to be chucked into the mix for its latest Davis Cup tie.
When it became obvious that Tennis New Zealand needed an indoor complex for a September Davis Cup showdown, Paterson quickly threw up ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill as an option.
Paterson is a Southlander who now lives in Auckland.
But more importantly, she knows Stadium Southland and its capabilities very well.
Prior to taking up the role of CEO at Tennis New Zealand Paterson was the Northern Mystics netball organisation’s CEO.
But before that - from 2005 to 2012 - Paterson worked as the Netball Southland/Southern Steel CEO. That was after a three-year stint as Tourism Southland’s regional manager.
“I knew, clearly, the venue down here at Stadium Southland, so I threw that into the pot along with the other options [for the Davis Cup].
“The team had a look at the venues across the country. Availability was one of the key issues, but I also knew the stadium team here would do everything they could to make the venue work really well for us.”
There is only one portable tennis surface in New Zealand and that was needed to make a Davis Cup tie in Invercargill work.
However, that portable court had been in storage for a while and it had suffered some water damage.
Once the anxiety had eased and it was confirmed the court could be used at ILT Stadium Southland, it was a case of ‘let’s do it’, Paterson told The Tribune.
To make the New Zealand-Thailand Davis Cup tie stack up in Invercargill the Invercargill Licensing Trust also agreed to come on board as a lead sponsor.
It’s been 19 years since Invercargill hosted a Davis Cup tie - interestingly Paterson was at that event as a spectator.
She is hopeful the Southland public will embrace it by showing up.
As of midday Friday about 800 tickets, including corporate tables, had been sold for each of the two days.
“We want it to be really well supported. It’s not often international tennis is held here, it’s been 19 years since the last time… If we get more support here that’s obviously going to make us think, if we are going to have another indoor event, we will want to bring it back here.
“I’m hoping for at least 1000 to 1500 a day, that would be amazing.”
Paterson expected those who do take the opportunity to take in the action over the two days will be “blown away” by the standard of tennis served up.
Paterson is not the only connection to attached to the New Zealand team for the Davis Cup tie.
Invercargill-based Jason McKenzie, who has built up an extensive experience in sports psychology, in February joined the New Zealand men’s tennis team for its Davis Cup tie against Bulgaria in Christchurch.
McKenzie has worked across multiple sports, including attending the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year as part of New Zealand support team.
McKenzie is again helping the national tennis team for its important clash with Thailand over the next two days.
Friday 15th | from 4:00pm: Two singles matches
Saturday 16th from 12:00pm: One doubles and one or two singles matches (min. two matches)