MIDLAND, Mich. – Feb. 3, 2020 – World-class tennis will continue to be staged in the Great Lakes Bay Region thanks to a three-year extension of title sponsorship by Dow for the Dow Tennis Classic. The agreement between Dow (NYSE: DOW) and Greater Midland calls for the international tournament to remain at the Greater Midland Tennis Center through 2023. The tournament has been a part of the Midland community for 32 years and is the longest running stop on the USTA Pro-Circuit.
“We are proud to announce this three-year extension of the Dow Tennis Classic,” said Greg Bunker, Dow executive representative and vice chair of the Greater Midland Tennis Center operating board. “We continue to see tremendous community engagement and support for this event, significant value for Dow and our employees, and a great opportunity to showcase Dow technologies and innovation through sports.”
“The USTA is grateful to Dow for their incredible support of the Dow Tennis Classic over the past 32 years,” said Megan Rose, United States Tennis Association (USTA) Senior Director. “The Dow Tennis Classic has consistently been the crown jewel of the USTA Pro Circuit calendar, and so much of that can be attributed to the partnership with Dow and their impact on the Midland community. The best players in women's tennis have played at the Dow Tennis Classic, and we are thrilled that this extension will guarantee more world-class tennis and vital playing opportunities for American women.”
The Dow Tennis Classic supports significant community impact for fans, residents and local businesses. Annually, the event generates $1.5 million in economic impact with 15,000 fans traveling from across the region, state and Midwest to witness world-class athleticism. The tournament also supports a wide variety of educational outreach opportunities. Each year touring professional players visit area schools, reaching more than 4,000 young students with a message of empowerment and encouragement. In addition, internship opportunities give local college students real-world experience in marketing, promotions and event management.
For Dow, the tournament also provides significant value for customers and employees. Exceptional tennis, locally catered dining and special events provide opportunities for the organization to enhance business growth and strengthen relationships by bringing customers to the event. The organization is also proud to give back to its employees and the communities where they live and work.
Dow technologies play a key role in creating innovative products that enhance the world of sport. In tennis, next-generation LED lighting are enabled by DOWSIL™ Moldable Optical Silicone, deliver optimum light output and energy savings for stadiums and other sports venues. Dow’s smart solutions are also helping shape the future of athletic equipment and apparel. The recently released Wilson TRINITI tennis ball, designed with Dow technology in the core, has a more durable life span than traditional counterparts and features sustainable packaging.
For Greater Midland’s part, the Classic allows the organization to support youth and adult programming year-round. “The Dow Tennis Classic provides financial support for a host of programming essential to our core,” said Kristen McDonald, president and CEO of Greater Midland. “The tournament, and the community’s support, helps ensure our kids and adults are moving each day, all kids are connected to a caring adult, and our youngest learners are ready for school.”
The 32nd annual Dow Tennis Classic is February 3-9 at the Greater Midland Tennis Center. To learn more about the Classic, its regional impact, or to purchase tickets for this year’s event, visit www.dowtennisclassic.com.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation and leading business positions to achieve profitable growth. The Company’s ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company. Dow’s portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure and consumer care. Dow operates 109 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 36,500 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $43 billion in 2019. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.
About Greater Midland
Founded in 1919, Greater Midland has been serving the needs of the community for over 100 years. The organization strives to ensure that every Midland county resident is healthy, stable and thriving through physical activity, connection to others and early learning. The Greater Midland Tennis Center, a part of the Greater Midland network, offers youth and adult play opportunities for all skill levels. Learn more about Greater Midland at greatermidland.org.