Laykold and the NY Open
Laykold was part of the New York Open at it’s inception in 2018.
When the tournament came into being, it didn’t just need new courts, it needed a brand new identity. This challenge was an opportunity for Laykold to show its true colors.
“It’s a beautifully laid down court. A lot of indoor courts can be a bit bumpy but this is a fantastic court.”
Challenge
EVENT IMAGE
The creation of the New York Open was a transformation in itself. Previously the San Fransisco Open, then the San Jose Open, then the Memphis Open, the tournament relocated to Long Island’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in February 2018. The tournament needed to establish its identity and attract new fans to the game. The courts had a fundamental role to play in this.
UNIQUE VENUE
As the home of the New York Islanders NHL Team, the Coliseum came with the unique challenge of turning an ice rink into an elite tennis venue and back again. This added both exacting technical and time pressures.
It was only ATP indoor tournament in the USA which therefore required a court tailored to the indoor environment.
Approach
Working in close collaboration with our long-term agent partner, Ace Surfaces, a leading court installer in the U.S., we approached the New York Open as both an event identity and court-building challenge:
Color
Drawing from the widest range of colors in the industry we gave the New York Open its iconic black courts. 150 gallons of Laykold Masters Topcoat – a wear resistant, sand-filled, 100% acrylic emulsion – is applied every year transforming both the main court and two off site practice courts.
FULLY PORTABLE SYSTEM
Originally a basketball court system which was reimagined for tennis, we created 3,000 square meters of fully portable stadium court surface as a 425-piece jigsaw which is installed afresh each year.
TAILORED FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
With our access to the venue restricted until the last minute a quick turnaround is essential from both Laykold and Ace Surfaces.
For the 2020 tournament, the ice remained in place pre installation so we developed a protective cover which allowed us to install the courts over ice.
The unique court system has been specially tailored to meet the demands of the indoor environment.
Results
The New York Open stood out as the ‘Home of the Black Court’ with the striking Laykold courts providing the foundation of the tournament’s image. As a result, Laykold has become part of the fabric of the tournament and is trusted in New York.
In 2019, Laykold and Ace Surfaces transformed the home of the New York Islanders into the New York Open within just 24 hours and handed it back again in half of that time.
In 2020, with the additional complexity of the ice remaining in situ, the transformation was still completed within an astonishing 36 hours saving the tournament both time and money.
Crucially, when it comes to the court, the players are fans. Top seed and Number 1 American John Isner was emphatic with his praise at the 2019 tournament: “It’s a beautifully laid down court. A lot of indoor courts can be a bit bumpy but this is a fantastic court”.
