How do you turn a baseball infield into a tennis court? It's as complicated as it sounds

"Tennis is experiencing a resurgence, with almost 26 million people playing in the U.S. alone. That number has been on an upward trajectory five years in a row. While the sport's renewed cultural relevance can be attributed to multiple factors, brands across fashion, entertainment, and even sports leagues like Major League Baseball are capitalizing on the trend through unconventional opportunities."

"On December 8, LoanDepot Park, home of baseball's Miami Marlins, will undergo a temporary redesign to host the Unified Events Miami Invitational, a one-night, first-of-its-kind exhibition featuring top tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz, João Fonseca, Amanda Anisimova, and Jessica Pegula in a city with a strong appetite for elite tennis. "While they have the Miami Open, there is such a fervor for tennis in the Miami market, especially for those players," says Molly Pendleton, SVP of MLS, Touring, and Unified Events."

"To tap into the market's enthusiasm, Pendleton and her team originally planned to host the event in a traditional arena, a common choice for these exhibition matches. However, due to scheduling conflicts and the time needed to set up the courts, Unified Events decided not to take that route. Since both United Events and the Marlins work with sports and culture company IMG, the partners explored creative ways to bring tennis to a baseball stadium. They selected LoanDepot Park because it offered optimal sigh tlines and a high-quality fan experience. "I was skeptical until I saw the renderings of what it could look like and what the fan experience would be, says Pendleton. [I] got on board with the idea [that] this could be a really unique experience for fans and the players.""

Tennis participation in the U.S. has grown to almost 26 million players and has increased for five consecutive years. Brands across fashion, entertainment, and major sports leagues are leveraging tennis's renewed cultural relevance through unconventional activations. LoanDepot Park will be temporarily redesigned on December 8 to host a one-night exhibition featuring Carlos Alcaraz, João Fonseca, Amanda Anisimova, and Jessica Pegula. Unified Events and the Marlins, working with IMG, chose a stadium conversion over an arena because of scheduling constraints, superior sightlines, and a high-quality fan experience demonstrated by CAD renderings.

Read at Fast Company