World TeamTennis Player Draft Set for March 13th
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 1, 2018 (Newswire.com) - Season #19 for the Philadelphia Freedoms of World TeamTennis (WTT) is fast approaching, and the venerable Philly franchise will return to the Michael J. Hagan ‘85 Arena at Saint Joseph’s University for the 2018 season.
“All of us with the Freedoms are very excited to return home to Hagan Arena this summer,” said Craig Kardon, the head coach of the Philadelphia Freedoms. “We have exciting plans for our upcoming season, beginning with the upcoming WTT Draft. Our players and our fans greatly enjoyed the setting at Hagan Arena, and we are looking forward to competing there beginning in late July.”
"Hagan Arena brings the Freedoms back into the City of Philadelphia, where it all began when WTT was started back in 1974," said Barbara Perry, the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Freedoms. "We learned a lot from our first season at Hagan Arena last summer, and we are working on enhancements and refinements for the game night experience, especially for our fans of all ages. A night at the Freedoms gives families and fans a special night together with many of the world's finest tennis players, in a unique championship format."
Barbara Perry , SVP/GM of Philadelphia Freedoms
AmerisourceBergen Corporation is the presenting sponsor of the Freedoms. The Freedoms will start to build their player lineup at the WTT Draft on March 13th in Indian Wells, California, which will be live streamed at WTT.com.
“Hagan Arena brings the Freedoms back into the City of Philadelphia, where it all began when WTT was started back in 1974,” said Barbara Perry, the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Freedoms. “We learned a lot from our first season at Hagan Arena last summer, and we are working on enhancements and refinements for the game night experience, especially for our fans of all ages. A night at the Freedoms gives families and fans a special night together with many of the world’s finest tennis players, in a unique championship format.”
This will be the second consecutive year that the Philadelphia Freedoms play their home matches at Hagan Arena. It’s also the second year that the Freedoms will play their home matches in the City of Philadelphia. Hagan Arena is also the site for Saint Joseph’s men’s and women’s basketball games.
“Saint Joseph's will proudly host the Philadelphia Freedoms again this summer," said Saint Joseph’s University President Mark C. Reed, Ed.D. "We look forward to welcoming old and new fans to our campus and to the vibrant City Avenue District.”
The Freedoms began play in WTT’s inaugural 1974 season where they played their home matches at the legendary Spectrum in South Philadelphia, the former home of the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers. The centerpiece of the team was current Freedoms owner (and Tennis Hall of Famer) Billie Jean King, who served as player-coach. She became the first woman to coach a professional sports team that included male players.
Once King was signed with the Freedoms, her good friend Sir Elton John decided to write and record the song “Philadelphia Freedom” in her honor and for the team to use as an anthem. John was such an enthusiastic fan of the Freedoms that he attended home matches wearing the team’s uniform and sat on the bench with the players.
The 2018 season of World TeamTennis presented by GEICO begins on July 15 and concludes with the championship finals on August 4. The full 2018 Philadelphia Freedoms season schedule will be released on March 13th, at which time season tickets will be on sale.
AmerisourceBergen Corporation is the presenting sponsor of the Freedoms. Additional sponsorship support is provided by Penn Medicine, Beneficial Bank, USTA Middle States, Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia-Valley Forge, ChatterBlast Media, Chaddsford Winery, 23K Studios, Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa & Salon, Sweet Street Desserts, PECO, Grimm & Grove Communications, Geico, Wilson and Deco Turf.
Additional information about the Philadelphia Freedoms is available online at http://www.PhiladelphiaFreedoms.com.
About World TeamTennis:
World TeamTennis (WTT) showcases the best in professional tennis with the innovative team format co-founded by Billie Jean King in the 1970s. Recognized as the leader in professional team tennis competition, WTT features many of the world’s best players competing annually for the King Trophy, the league’s championship trophy named after King. In July 2015, WTT became the fifth major professional team sports league in the U.S. to reach the 40th season milestone. In 2017, team owners Mark Ein and Fred Luddy acquired majority ownership of the organization. The 43rd season of WTT presented by GEICO begins July 15 and concludes with the WTT Finals on August 4. For more information, visit www.WTT.com.
Media Contact for the Philadelphia Freedoms:
Jim DeLorenzo, Jim DeLorenzo Public Relations
215-266-5943, jim@jhdenterprises.com
Source: Philadelphia Freedoms
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