[Doc]

So. Rain is forecast for the rest of the week in New York.

The world's 2nd biggest tennis tournament stops dead.

Why do all the Grand Slam tournaments (except Australia) make no provision at all for rain to fall? Surely someone has worked out by now that this is a likely eventuality?

Why was the multi million dollar Flushing Meadow stadium complex built apparently with no ability at all to stage at least some of the matches under cover? A couple of coverable courts would ease the backlog of matches, provide something for the disappointed visitors to FM, and give TV something to show for their investment.

After all, isn't this the 21st Century?

 

[mexicotrip]

You are so correct...I have thought that EVERY single time I have heard there was a rain dealy! Funny thing is...that in Australia it rains the least of all the grand slam (lol).

 

[faboozadoo15]

wats the biggest tournament?

 

[tenn_ace]

an excellent question... actually, they should start with something what is being used at Wimbledon: court covers... It takes them good 30-40 min to dry the courts after the rain is over...

We were talking about this with other fans in the stands and nobody could explain why they don't do that... the most plausable explanation that I've heard is that rain means profit for the tournament. Pople have nothing to do and they wonder from shop to shop, eat, drink, etc... if there is no rain, most people just wonder from court to court watching tennis.

 

[disposablehero]

Two retractable roofs would essentially nullify the effects of rain after Round 3.

 

[Fingon]

in Toronto it rains every fucking year during the tournament.

And it's always the same story, it rains, they come with those useless machines and 400 guys with towels, when the court is dry then it starts raining again.

It they could at least keep the court dry, then they could take advantage of the moments when it's not raining.

I asked this year why on earth they don't cover the f*ing court so when it stops raining, oh surprise! it's dry.

They gave me a half-assed answer, that they can't do that because of the material.

Give me a fucking break, you can cover anything. But I think it's too difficult to come up with something that makes sense. I am sure they can get come cover of a material that wouldn't allow the rain to go through, it's a freaking 17 million dollars tournaments so I am sure they can afford it.

That wouldn't solve the problem as well as a roof but it's a hell lot cheaper and faster to setup and at least it will allow play to resume quickly, but hey, that would mean to show common sense, by far the less common sense.

 

[faboozadoo15]

i agree with the covering of the courts, but not the closing of the roof. the players prepare for an outdoor tournament... it's completely different with the roof closed.

 

[Fantasy Season]

Also, a retractable roof costs a pretty penny.

 

[Miss Thang]

in Toronto it rains every fucking year during the tournament.

And it's always the same story, it rains, they come with those useless machines and 400 guys with towels, when the court is dry then it starts raining again.

It they could at least keep the court dry, then they could take advantage of the moments when it's not raining.

I asked this year why on earth they don't cover the f*ing court so when it stops raining, oh surprise! it's dry.

They gave me a half-assed answer, that they can't do that because of the material.

Give me a fucking break, you can cover anything. But I think it's too difficult to come up with something that makes sense. I am sure they can get come cover of a material that wouldn't allow the rain to go through, it's a freaking 17 million dollars tournaments so I am sure they can afford it.

That wouldn't solve the problem as well as a roof but it's a hell lot cheaper and faster to setup and at least it will allow play to resume quickly, but hey, that would mean to show common sense, by far the less common sense.

Go head! Preach! They showed the kids today on TV with those skwejee (sp?) things and I was like WTF? Why don't they do like Wimbeldon that as soon as it start rainin they cover the effin court up!

 

[Doc]

Yes, covers would help.

But these tournaments are rich enough to get at least one of the show courts some form of retractable roof-cover that would still let the air in. They were even talking about one for wimbledon two years ago when it rained a lot. This year it didn't really rain, and the idea is forgotten.

If it pours again on Tuesday, then the whole USOpen schedule will be in a big mess, and we'll end up having the big matches squashed together on outside courts

 

[disposablehero]

Retractable roofs are not expensive compared to shrinking television contracts caused by unreliable product.

 

[~|Naomi|~]

AO is prepared for rain.

Covers would help, but they also need a court crew for each court. One crew dries Ashe and then moves to armstrong and so on. To have a crew for each court would be a great place to start casuse then each court could pretty much start at the same time.

 

[azza1]

Aussies are smart plane and simple

 

[Mr. Man]

And it's always the same story, it rains, they come with those useless machines and 400 guys with towels, when the court is dry then it starts raining again.

It they could at least keep the court dry, then they could take advantage of the moments when it's not raining.

I asked this year why on earth they don't cover the f*ing court so when it stops raining, oh surprise! it's dry.

They gave me a half-assed answer, that they can't do that because of the material.

Give me a fucking break, you can cover anything. But I think it's too difficult to come up with something that makes sense. I am sure they can get come cover of a material that wouldn't allow the rain to go through, it's a freaking 17 million dollars tournaments so I am sure they can afford it.

That wouldn't solve the problem as well as a roof but it's a hell lot cheaper and faster to setup and at least it will allow play to resume quickly, but hey, that would mean to show common sense, by far the less common sense.

AfuckingMEN!