McWIL Courtwall is appointed PSA Official Court Partner
April 27, 2004 by SquashTalk Staff, SquashTalk Independent News Service © 2004 

HEIGHTENED COMPETITION FOR ASB
McWIL Courtwall, the Austrian-based organization that competes globally with the market-share leading German based ASB, has broken ASB's stranglehold on the world squash scene in dramatic fashion with a new partnership with the Men's Professional Squash Association (PSA).

ASB had grabbed attention a year ago with a groundbreaking deal with WISPA which brought an innovative and sparkling new ASB all glass wall court to North America. The ASB court has gotten heavy use with both PSA and WISPA events in North America, being used by John Nimick's Event Engine for his three mega North American events, among others. The ASB - WISPA court was also used for the first time this March by the College Squash Association (CSA) for their 2004 National Individual championships.

ASB also gets high North American visibility for the permanent all-glass court and two three-glass-wall courts installed at Yale University at probably the finest squash showcase facility in the world.

But McWIL, who have been making a lot of noises lately especially in Northern Europe, have taken the ASB-WISPA approach one step further.

In addition to a simple court-supply agreement, McWIL has also packaged up some sqauash event logistics services along with the court. Their court has already been used in Bermuda this spring.

INNOVATION - MARKET GROWTH
This important agreement brings a few important court innovations. The most important of which is potentially the court's "real" wood floor. A little publicized issue with the tour courts used to date is the slipperiness of the plywood floors that are in general use on all glass courts. Many crucial matches degrade into slipping matches. The Superseries Match in London in 2002 between Jonathon Power and David Palmer comes to mind, as do several of the matches at last year's US Open in Boston.

This agreement signals new growth in the world squash market. It is hard to overemphasize the significance of a second major organization getting more deeply involved in the court business worldwide. It signals that serious commercial organizations see growth and dynamism in the squash marketplace. This move coincides with new all-glass events popping up in a number of locations, including in particular Bermuda and Chicago among others.

PSA's Chaloner and Briars flank McWIL's Wolfgang Denk (photo © 2004 Fritz Borchert)

THREE YEAR PACT
The Professional Squash Association (PSA) and McWIL Courtwall have signed a three-year commercial partnership agreement in which the leading international squash court construction company becomes the "Official Tournament Court Partner" of the PSA.

The agreement is established for the purpose of making an all-glass court more readily available to promoters who want to present men's professional squash in a state-of-the-art facility, through leasing discounts and logistics services packaging.

Gawain Briars, Chief Executive of the PSA, stated: "This is an exciting new development in squash and an important announcement which is very good news for all parties. We have inspected and play-tested the new McWIL Courtwall all glass court in major event conditions, and I am delighted to confirm that this product is a valuable new addition to the market."

The spectacular new court made its debut at last month's highly successful inaugural Bermuda Open. "The court's characteristics, including the floor, lighting and glass walls, are all of the latest technology and will bring a new dimension to showcasing men's professional squash around the world," Briars continued.

"We are satisfied that this court is as good, if not better, than any other comparable product on the market, and PSA is very pleased to have the opportunity to partner McWIL Courtwall in this global agreement. We believe that PSA events held on this brand new court will prove to be more attractive to our promoters, spectators, event and tour sponsors, and players," Briars added.

A special discounted price structure has been negotiated in the agreement, whereby PSA promoters who choose to hire this court for sanctioned events will benefit from a substantial rental discount off the market rate.

"PSA is of course aware of the financial challenges our promoters continue to have in placing world class events in iconic venues. This agreement is designed to assist them in crafting viable budgets, thus encouraging greater prospects of presenting the best players in the best venues," Briars concluded.

McWIL Courtwall is one of the world's leading squash court construction companies, with representatives in over 35 countries. The company has built squash courts from St. Petersburg in Russia, and Cairo in Egypt, to San Francisco in the USA in the last decade, and offers a selection of WSF-accredited materials as well as a wealth of facility design and squash programming consulting input to clients.

Together with partner companies Glaverbel-Hardmaas Glas and Hamberger Haro Wood sport floors, McWIL Courtwall has designed and constructed a brand new four-sided glass tournament court. The Hardmaas glass is fabricated with "Pro View Two", a two-colour ceramic dot vision-enhancement system baked into the glass for superior spectator viewing that also optimises the players' ability to see the ball. The custom-designed real-wood floor is stained and has a unique open surface for maximum player stability and excellent ball grip.

The McWIL Courtwall portable court is supported by Schenker Stinnes, the world's foremost logistics company. Schenker Stinnes provides ocean, rail, air and ground transportation services to move everything from bulk materials to extremely sensitive goods like glass throughout the world.

McWIL Courtwall and its partner companies have over 15 years' experience in glass court construction. The Hardmaas Glas court was used for the 1988 World Open in Amsterdam, and a McWIL Courtwall all-glass court was used during the 2002 Women's World Team Championships in Denmark.

The new court will be available to all squash event promoters worldwide on a rental or purchase basis. A daughter company of McWIL Courtwall - SquashEvent.com - will be available for interested companies and sponsors to develop new squash events using the McWIL Courtwall court.

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