UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 23, Page 1
March 7, 1996
World Team Tennis to arrive in BCC this fall

     Some of the biggest names in professional tennis will be
competing in Newark this fall as the Delaware franchise of World Team
Tennis makes its home in the University's Bob Carpenter Center.
     The franchise, formerly known as the New Jersey Stars, is owned
by tennis star Billie Jean King and International Management Group.
MBNA American will sponsor the local WTT team, it was announced Feb.
29 in the local financial giant's Bowman Conference Center.
     The WTT's 1996 season runs from Sept. 8-19, and exact dates of
the six home matches will be released as soon as the schedule is
completed.
     According to King, three factors contributed to the decision to
move the New Jersey team to Delaware: MBNA sponsorship, the Bob
Carpenter Center and the positive response of area fans to minor-
league professional sports teams.
     The Delaware team does not yet have a name, but King said a
contest, open to the community, might be one way of making that
decision.
     Although the team rosters have not been decided, King said
Martina Navratilova will probably be on the Delaware team. Navratilova
played on the New Jersey team last season when the Stars won a second
consecutive WTT title.
     King mentioned her familiarity with the University campus, having
been featured speaker at the 25th anniversary celebration of women's
sports at Delaware.
     According to Mary Ann Hitchens, athletics, "Billie Jean King was
the featured speaker on April 23, 1994, at the banquet that was the
culminating event for the year-long celebration of the 25th
Anniversary of Women's Athletics at the University of Delaware. It is
exciting that the UD/Billie Jean King connection is being repeated
with the arrival of World Team Tennis to the Bob Carpenter Center this
fall.
     "The exhilarating atmosphere that characterizes World Team Tennis
matches and the opportunity to observe some of the best known players
in men's and women's tennis cannot help but reflect positively on the
University of Delaware."
     Dominick Sicilia, Carpenter Center, said, "We are pleased to host
World Team Tennis beginning this September. We know the entire
University and Newark community will share in the excitement of having
the opportunity to watch some of the most prestigious tennis stars
compete locally."
     In 1995, the two-division league included the Atlanta Thunder,
Charlotte Express, Florida Twist, Idaho Sneakers, Kansas City
Explorers, New York Otbzz, Sacramento Capitals, St. Louis Aces,
Wichita Advantage and New Jersey Stars.
     The concept of team tennis was introduced to the public in 1974
as professional World TEAMTENNIS. In 1981, after a two-year hiatus,
the professional league resumed with four teams in California. The
league became the WTT in 1992.
     King is WTT founder and serves as its director and official
spokesperson.
                                                         -Ed Okonowicz