Break the Love, a social sports platform that allows groups to discover and book spaces to play tennis, has partnered with Wilson Sporting Goods.
The partnership will result in streamlining and subsidising the current permit system in New York City and allow tennis players to book permits directly on the Break the Love platform.
Break the Love’s partnership with sports equipment manufacturer Wilson will open data to unlock access to public tennis and recreational spaces for tennis players of all ages. The initiative will help to avoid court overcrowding, provide greater price transparency and increase the use of underused training spaces.
Permits for youth players usually cost $10 (£8/€9) but will now be free, while permits for adult players will be partially subsidised by Wilson and Break the Love. For the first time, seasoned and amateur tennis players will be able to apply and save on the cost of their permit online.
Free permits will be available for those up to the age of 18 and there will be $10 discounts on adult permits until November.
Trish Goyal, co-founder of Break the Love, said: “Currently, you need a permit to play tennis in NYC and this costs on average around one hundred dollars for adults. The system for getting a permit can be confusing and create barriers to entry for everyone from experienced players to those trying to get into the game.
“By partnering with Wilson, we are able to ‘give the gift of game’ providing access for more people to get outdoors and play this sport.”
The aim of the partnership is to digitise the public park tennis system across New York and the US, and create an easy, transparent and accessible booking system.
Gordon Devin, president and general manager, Wilson Brand, added: “At Wilson, we’ve already built an incredibly engaged and expansive tennis community, but our goal is to get even more people playing and loving the game.
“By making courts accessible and affordable, we can reach a whole new category of future tennis enthusiasts. We truly hope this initiative brings more families and youth players to the courts of New York City this summer.”
Image: Julian Schiemann on Unsplash