What Happened to Public Access to the World Championships? by Ted Gross I tuned into the first round Chicago
matches Friday and there were three courts in action at once, but all
trad courts, nothing on the glass.
I'm thinking this is the world
championships, maybe even a record purse--no matches on the real court?
Everything on the rec courts upstairs at the University Club?
Then someone pointed out that on the PSA
website under 'Tickets' there is no option to purchase tickets for the
first round (Friday and Saturday) matches.
So I called the University Club of Chicago.
If I understood the answer correctly, the general public is prohibited
from attending the first round matches both days. That apparently
the first round matches are reserved for Patrons and Sponsors, with
club members being allowed to attend if space permits.
Hoo boy.
Embarrassing for an Olympic sport if this
is accurate, and I would add shameful. Quite surprised the PSA would go
along with this.
But the reality is--we can pretend
otherwise every day, but squash is a country club sport. It's a country
club sport in Egypt, and it's a country club sport in the US, where
supposedly all the action is.
Harry Saint in the 70's tried to change the
landscape in New York City and for a while he was successful. Toronto
followed suit and Philly and Boston did to an extent as well.
But public access to squash couldn't last,
and we're back where we've always been. A country club sport, albeit an
Olympic one. Or a dog with fleas, but still a dog.
