The Tennis Industry Association (TIA) can reveal new research insights to support the recovery of the tennis industry from Coronavirus.

The new study, conducted by Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS), heard from over 200 tennis playing venues and retail outlets across 40 states. Surveys were issued in both April and May to compare the evolving response.

The results show that both retail sales and facility and court usage understandably plunged as the pandemic took hold. However, there are signs of recovery as retailers and facilities look to reopen.

In fact, the data suggests that 63% of tennis retail businesses expect to reopen by the end of June at the latest, with 62% of facilities / courts reporting the same. Reiterating the trend, 87% of those contacted were closed when we surveyed in April. 64% were fully closed in May.

In order to accomplish this safely, stores and venues are taking proactive steps to reassure and protect their customers. 78% of all businesses are introducing more frequent sanitation, including 66% placing washing stations in front or just inside facilities. 63% of tennis employers will require staff to wear facemasks and / or gloves.

Other measures used by tennis businesses to give customers confidence that they are being vigilant about safety include 77% of courts / facilities reducing group lesson sizes, and just under three quarters cancelling or postponing socials, mixers, and other group activities. 60% are encouraging players to provide their own cans of balls. While this will impact on the playing and social experience, venues are also prepared to compensate members for closures. In total, 56% of tennis playing venues are offering credit for missed time.

Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) is committed to working closely with key industry stakeholders to assess the impact of Covid-19 on individual sporting sectors, and to help support initiatives to bolster and enhance these sectors as the sporting world moves towards recovery.

Similar reports on Running and the Surf and Skate industries will be available in the coming days. SMS has also recently conducted part one of a business impact survey on behalf of Cycling Industries Europe.

For more information on the state of the US sports industry and to understand how your business can thrive in the shifting sporting landscape, please contact keith.storey@sportsmarketingsurveysusa.com

For more information on the TIA, please contact Bryan White bryanwhite@tennisindustry.org