reks's Ratings

BUY COP by reks on 15 Aug 2014 13:43

Price at rating: 17.24, now:

Hearing of a possible tie up with Independent Resources (LON:IRG) on thier The company believes that the grant of the extension, increaser in its working interest and appointment as operator will increaser the attractiveness of Ksar Hadada as an investment opportunityr for potential farm-in partners. We anticipate further newsflowr going forward with respect to Tunisia and updates in due course.r Independent Resources PLC, (LSE AIM: IRG) Our price target of 143p thus equates to; 66.7p CBM; 61.5p Tunisia exploration; 14.6p gas storage

Score: 85.00

BUY ECHO by reks on 15 Aug 2014 10:21

Price at rating: 2.45, now:

Independent Resources PLC, (LSE AIM: IRG) Our price target of 143p thus equates to; 66.7p CBM; 61.5p Tunisia exploration; 14.6p gas storager r Today, 9:50 AMr The pre‐permitting undiscounted value perr share is around 97p and merely accounting for the pre‐planning transaction value, the true value of the project post planning isr likely to be multiple but this still looks some way off. Even following approval, there will be a two year appraisal period includingr 3D seismic acquisition. r Market Talk's insight:r Independent Resources PLC, (LSE AIM: IRG) Our price target of 143p thus equates to; 66.7p CBM; 61.5p Tunisia exploration; 14.6p gas storager the management team at Independent Resources operates on a model that tightly integrates oil and gas exploration and storage.r IRG’s model tightly integrates its upstream oil and gas assets in North Africa and Italy with the development of a major storage facility and sees this as a way to maximize its production projects as the basis of a business that returns a high value. Independent Resources has confidence that it’s unique brand of partnerships and acquisitions, when tied to its assets result in a strong business model.r At the moment, IRG is involved in many major projects including the Rivara underground gas storage facility. This project, which uses a naturally fractured deep reservoir in Italy’s Po Valley, not only has gained government concessions, believes that this project will be a major step in alleviating a major hole in the gas distribution and storage system that has existed for some time.r This storage facility, when it is online will handle an estimated 3.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas. This, the company notes, would make it one of the largest storage facilities in both Italy and Europe. The key to profitability here would be building a long-term partnership on the project. The company believes the first stage of this will be online in about five years. At the moment, Independent Resources is partnering with ERG Rivara Storage srl, a subsidiary of ERG SpA, a leading Italian energy business.r Another business IRG is investigating is creating “shale gas”. “Shale gas”, an exploding trend in the United States, can be contained in not only coal beds but also in sedimentary rock, called carbonaceous shales, where the gas collects in micro-structures and fractures, is relatively easy to extract and can be extracted horizontally or vertically.r Independent Resources are involved in another, more limited coal bed methane from the Fiume Bruna parcel in Tuscany. It is quite an extensive project and is expected to extend south into their Casoni lease. It is a large reservoir and is also based on earlier mining efforts in the region which have substantial upgraded the reservoir’s size.r In an effort to inject some environmental consciousness into this project, Independent Resources believes it will be able to inject CO2 into a coal bed to recover gas that would remain otherwise trapped. IRG believes there are many opportunities for this to be used to help cut the amount CO2 in the air.r As an oil developer, IRG holds an 18.97% percent interest in the Ksar Hadada block in Southeast Tunisia and it believes that recent discoveries of light oil in various structures will prove profitable from its Acacus well field in this area. IRG believes there is substantial profit from possible shale oil deposits in this area as there is believed to be significant “shale oil” (oil trapped in layers of shale) that may also be brought online.r Independent Resources is an oil and gas exploration company with a focus on CBM and gasr storage opportunities in Italy and a share of oil exploration activities is Tunisia. The companyr should be considered a good strategic investment. Italy is in gas deficit, Independent has gasr and, perhaps more notably, is seeking to develop strategically important storage facilitatesr that will help temper future gas shortages and ease security of supply. The valuation looksr underwritten by CBM assets with further upside in the form of very near term Tunisianr exploration and potentially, game changing upside if it is able to finally secure permitting forr its proposed Rivara gas storage operation. r Better Politics Could Lead Italy Towards a Technologically Advanced Energy Marketr Italian Prime Minister Letta took an open-minded approach towards new energy resources, including shale gas, and we hope to see improvements on the technical investigation front in the coming months too.r Do you know of any shale gas projects in Italy?r The Independent Resources PLC project in Tuscany should be the only unconventional gas extraction project under way to date. It is believed that, besides Central Italy, there may be resources in the North (the Po Valley) and probably in other areas. However, deeper investigation is needed through specific studies. Regarding the first experiments carried out in Tuscany, the press has mentioned that Independent Resources PLC uses a “hydraulic fracture operation coupled with a ceramic proppant.r What is the regulatory framework for shale gas operators in Italy? Are there any specific laws applicable only to shale gas operators (and not to companies involved exclusively in conventional gas activities)?r There are no specific regulations concerning shale gas in Italy.r ¾ CBM news: Recent news on the CBM front has been extremely positive. Not only did thisr confirm very gassy coal but also suggests shale gas potential and the ability to frac bothr zones enhancing their potential commerciality. In addition new licence applications couldr double the size of resource from around 92bcf currently. A minor negative is that ther additional zone will necessitate a new work programme and move back production but thisr is largely positive as such a programme will aim to enhance the production rate andr therefore value of the resource.r ¾ Free carry on Tunisian exploration: IRG has an 18.97% interest in the Petroceltic‐operatedr Ksar Hadada permit, onshore Southeast Tunisia. The Ksar conventional oil targets haver prospective* resources of 320mmbls, with a risk weighted potential of 43.7m for the firstr two wells (see section following). Seismic data completed in January identified a number ofr prospects and 2 (potentially 3) exploration wells are planned for this year, the first of whichr is due to spud in June/July this year with a second to follow immediately after.r Independent is fully carried through the 2010 work programme.r ¾ Storage, the long and winding road: Permitting in Italy is well known to be extremelyr protracted. When it involves a unique gas storage installation in Italy’s industrial heartland,r as in the case of the Rivara Under Ground Gas Storage, there are even more boxes to ber ticked. The prize though is substantial; the company estimates the post planning prospectr to be worth €300‐400m. The pre‐planning involvement of Italian national distributor ERGr greatly enhances the potential and provides a benchmark for valuation of c.€63m (c.£53m)r ‐ extrapolating the implied value of the €9.5m paid for its 15% stake.r ¾ Supportive management: Exec Chairman Grayson Nash holds c.15% of the company and,r as in past rounds, has supported the placing purchasing 200k shares.r ¾ Valuation: For now we value the company predominantly on the CBM and a typicallyr risked valuation for Tunisian exploration. We include very little value for the gas storager which offers considerable ‘post‐planning’ upside. Our price target of 143p thus equates to;r 66.7p CBM; 61.5p Tunisia exploration; 14.6p gas storager Valuation overviewr Category £m Value Value P/pshr Tuscany CBM 30.5 66.7r Rivara Gas Storage 6.7 14.6r Tunisia Exploration 28.2 61.6r r Totals/Price target 65.4 143.0r Potential Share price Catalysts r Independent has potential for newsflow in relation to each of its 3 arms;r • Exploration, Tunisia: News on advancement and results of exploration in Tunisia, first up Oryxr • CBM, Tuscany: Advancement of work programme potential farm‐out of CBM assetsr • Gas Storage, Rivara: Granting of licences for gas storage in Rivara would have a material impact on valuation in our viewr CBM – Medium term, with excellent well recent results r IRG’s CBM acreage is located in Tuscany. Independent was awarded the Casoni exploration licence adjacent to the south ofr Fiume Bruna with the environmental impact study for the Casoni licence currently under review. Fiume Bruna has a prospectiver resource of 92 bcf. Independent has recently conducted hydraulic fracturing on the Fiume Bruna 2 well which yielded veryr positive results, suggesting a greater resource and an additional shale play.r The work programme is aimed at proving the commercial prospect for Fiume Bruna this year and recent fraccing results suggestr greater potential than originally envisaged. We have ascribed 66.7p of value of for the CBM assets, which accounts only for ther licenced acreage. We ascribe 83p per mcf of value for the assets and apply a 50% risk discount which also incorporates somer dilution for farm out (which now seems likely).r Tunisia Exploration – near term, with significant high risk exploration upside potentialr The Tunisian prospects are attractive late stage exportation opportunities with relatively high possibility of success (PoS) ofr >30%, which though still high risk is relatively attractive in terms of exploration. Two prospects are to be drilled this summer. Ther first prospect is Oryx (well scheduled to spud immanently). Oryx has P50 gross prospective recoverable resource estimate ofr 25mmbls and an ascribed possibility of success at 34%. Drilling the second and larger Sidi Toui prospect is expected to followr immediately. Sidi Toui has a P50 gross prospective recoverable resource estimate of 88mmbls and a higher PoS 40%. r We have been fairly conservative in our means of valuation for Tunisia. Firstly, we have only valued the 2 initial wells set to spudr this summer and not the wider prospect, in so doing ignoring a further prospective 207mmbls. Second, while we have used ther appropriate PoS ratios (34% & 40%) we have ascribed a low value per barrel of £3.4 (a low NPV per barrel) to arrive at our in‐situr valuation of £28.2m net to IRG or 61.5p per share (£148.6m in total for the two prospects). To provide an indication of potentialr upside (as discreet to valuation which must always be appropriately risk weighted) on and un‐risked basis the same methodologyr would suggest £72.8m of value net to IRG or c.160p per sharer Rivara Gas Storage – very attractiver Rivara’s working capacity, estimated at c.113 bcf would make it one of the largest underground gas storage facilities in Europe.r The value of gas storage assets can really be attributed to the differential between winter and summer time gas pricing i.e. ar hedge on buying gas in the summer and selling it at better pricing in the winter. Thus simplistically the summer winterr differential x the number of storage units – costs = potential value of gas stored, which can then be appropriately ascribed anr NPV valuation. In truth ultimately this is more a utility infrastructure play and we would expect a farm out down the lone for ther heavy capex phase of the project thought to be around $400m. The company has advanced its planning application to within twor stages of completion but with the 120 days timescale for the first already passed, timing for an eventual decision is reallyr anybody’s guess. r While we have focussed on the risk, it is also appropriate to mention political will behind the project. With Italy, heavily importr dependent for its gas (with Algeria and Russia supplying around 33% combined) prone to blackouts and security of supply is a keyr issue. A recent letter from Prime Minister Berlusconi specifically outlined the strategic importance of the Rivara storage project.r The pre‐permitting undiscounted value perr share is around 97p and merely accounting for the pre‐planning transaction value, the true value of the project post planning isr likely to be multiple but this still looks some way off. Even following approval, there will be a two year appraisal period includingr 3D seismic acquisition. , but ofr course are largely worthless without permitting. Thus we have taken a cautious view, discounting the value implied by the ERGr deal by a massive 85% to account for the regulatory risk. It is not difficult to envisage the much geared impact merely removingr that risk (which would immediately be warranted following approval in our view). The pre‐permitting undiscounted value perr share is around 97p and merely accounting for the pre‐planning transaction value, the true value of the project post planning isr likely to be multiple but this still looks some way off. Even following approval, there will be a two year appraisal period includingr 3D seismic acquisition.

Score: 100.00

BUY HTIG by reks on 13 Aug 2014 06:29

Price at rating: 0.22, now:

Looking at the above there are plenty of pipeline opportunities for Hightex(HTIG). With the Brazil World Cup 2014 Now finished there could well be significant contract wins soon.r By PLATTSr 13 Aug 2014r Hightex Group (LON:HTIG) specialises in the design, manufacturing and installation of polymer membrane structures such as this image, or the Wimbledon retractable roof (very bottom of article).r r These polymer membranes are also really quite clever. For instance they have photovoltaic cell technology (PV Flexibles), which can be applied to their membrane structures. Furthermore their membranes can have a ‘Low-E’ coating.r r This will prevent heat and greenhouse effects in such structures.r r This was important to the New Bangkok International Airport construction.The airport had to renege on a prior contract at some cost in order to then use Hightex; they did this due to large, but undisclosed, savings on heating.r r This however has now changed with their financing arrangements that are now in place should greatly enhance their ability to take on more and more large scale high margin projects.r r The share price has been a bit depressed in the last few months. This, it would appear, is due to the fact that there is no new news on contracts.r r CountryTenant/useStadiumCapacityCompletion dateBrazilWorld Cup 2014Arena Mineirão74,3002013IraqAl Mina'aBasrah Stadium650002013BrazilWorld Cup 2014Estadio Castelão60,0002013BrazilWorld Cup 2014Estádio Vivaldo Lima60,0002013BrazilWorld Cup 2014Arena Cidade da Copa46,1542013BrazilWorld Cup 2014Estádio das Dunas45,0002013BrazilWorld Cup 2014Morenão Stadium44,3552013BrazilWorld Cup 2014Estadio Nacional76,2322012UKLiverpool FCStanley Park (New Anfield)60,0002012SwedenNational Team & AIKSwedbank Arena500002012BrazilGrêmio PortoalegrenseGrêmio Arena50,0002012BrazilWorld Cup 2014Arena Florianópolis42,4732012BrazilWorld Cup 2014Estadio Verdão42,5002012USAFlorida MarlinsMarlins Ballpark370002012IsraelMaccabi HaifaHaifa Stadium320002012SwedenHammarby IF Stockholm sarenan300002012r r Source – WorldStadia .comr r Looking at the above there are plenty of pipeline opportunities for Hightex. With the Brazil World Cup 2014 Now finished there could well be significant contract wins soon.r r Bear in mind that the Kiev, Ukraine Stadium contract won by hightex has a value of EUR 18.9mil. Two contracts from this non-exhaustive list could easily see Hightex beating estimates.r r Hightex have a historic conversion rate of 30% on projects less that 9mil and 50% for those with a greater value. As such I do not believe that securing two or three of these stadia would be unlikely for Hightex.r r Furthermore there are plenty of other opportunities for Hightex. Bangkok International Airport has a further stage of development. With Hightex’s track record and the savings they have already made for the airport I would consider it likely that this is a contract that they will win.r r Bear in mind that the Kiev, Ukraine Stadium contract won by hightex has a value of EUR 18.9mil. Two contracts from this non-exhaustive list could easily see Hightex beating estimates.r r Hightex have a historic conversion rate of 30% on projects less that 9mil and 50% for those with a greater value. As such I do not believe that securing two or three of these stadia would be unlikely for Hightex.r r Furthermore there are plenty of other opportunities for Hightex. Bangkok International Airport has a further stage of development. With Hightex’s track record and the savings they have already made for the airport I would consider it likely that this is a contract that they will win.

Score: 81.25

BUY ECHO by reks on 01 Aug 2014 08:16

Price at rating: 2.32, now:

city talk Exxon farm in

Score: 93.75

BUY KDNC by reks on 31 Jul 2014 14:04

Price at rating: 1.71, now:

Hightex (HTIG) United States Tennis Association unveiled an ambitious renovation plan that reportedly cost $500 million and included two new stadiums, it was easy to notice what was not in the project.r By stocktalkr 31 Jul 2014 13:09:55 r Expected to cost more than $100 million, according to a U.S. Open press release, the roof is part of a larger, $550-million project to modernize the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The larger project will include construction of a new Louis Armstrong Stadium, a new grandstand, wider walkways, and improved roadway infrastructure around the grounds.r r The USTA retained ROSSETTI to create a new 20-year vision plan for the center, and the architecture firm is involved in other aspects of the project beyond the roof. Once the project is completed, the center will be able to accommodate an additional 10,000 visitors per day, increasing overall annual attendance by approximately 100,000, according to the press release.r In each of the last five years, as rainy weather created havoc with the United States Open schedule and forced the men’s final to a Monday afternoon, the question got louder.r Where’s the roof?r As Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open announced plans to add roofed stadiums to their facilities, the lack of one at the United States Open became more glaring.r Where’s the roof?r Last year, when the United States Tennis Association unveiled an ambitious renovation plan that reportedly cost $500 million and included two new stadiums, it was easy to notice what was not in the project.r Where’s the roof?r At last, the U.S.T.A. has an answer, announcing Wednesday that a retractable roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium would now be part of the renovation.r The news release Wednesday did not explain when the roof would be built or how much it would cost, and U.S.T.A. officials declined to comment on the project until a news conference Thursday with the roof’s designer.r The U.S.T.A. would probably like the roof to be in the first wave of its planned renovation, which could include a new Grandstand court by 2015. Under the previously announced plan, a new 15,000-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium could support a roof, but officials said at the time that Armstrong would not get a roof until Ashe did.r U.S.T.A. officials have long said they were committed to adding a roof on Ashe once technology allowed it. Over the past decade, they had commissioned at least four roof studies. The swamplike soil underneath Ashe and the size of the building, which seats more than 22,500, make adding a roof an engineering challenge. U.S.T.A. officials have emphasized that an Ashe roof would need to be five times larger than the one that spans Wimbledon’s Centre Court.r Rossetti Architects, the firm retained for the planned renovations, is also designing the roof for Ashe Stadium. Over the past 20 years, Rossetti Architects has designed a variety of major sports facilities around the world. Among its projects are soccer stadiums, including Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., but the only tennis site on its résumé is in Indian Wells, Calif., and it does not have a roof.r The United States Open was the only Grand Slam event that did not have an existing roof or plans for one on at least one showcase court. Melbourne Park, site of the Australian Open, has retractable roofs on two courts, with a third expected to be completed in time for the 2015 tournament.r Sources are now saying the same British company will build the new roof as its wimbledon build has been a worldwide success as has its Brazil Olympics venture.r Centre Court at Wimbledon gained its retractable roof in 2009, and the All England Club announced this year that a retractable roof would be put on Court 1 by 2019.r On 17 May 2009, Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in Wimbledon tested the functionality of its new retractable roof with upgraded 15,000-seat capacity. Designed and put in place by Hightex, 5,200m² of folding PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) fabric concertina will protect Centre Court from inclement weather.r Part of the long-term plan that the club announced in January 2004, the 40% translucent roof would allow natural light in but keep the dampness off the ground by controlled air conditioning. Another benefit of the roof is to maintain the optimum temperature for the growth of natural grass. The folding roof is 65m × 75m of waterproof translucent material. Galliford Try was the main contractor partnered with AELTC.r The seating capacity has been increased from 13,800 to 15,000 with an extra 470mm seat spacing. The new stand also features additional stairs and lifts.r "Wimbledon's lightweight fabric retractable roof is set to retain the open-to-air stadium and focus spectators' attention on the action."r Capita Symonds provided the structural engineering services, while Populous (Formerly HOK Sport) of London was the architect for the roof.r Wimbledon retractable roofr With a total of nine bays of structural fabric, the retractable roof is divided into two sections, with four bays in one section and five in the other. Ten steel trusses, each weighing 70t and spanning 77m, fasten the bays. Each truss is supported by a set of wheels that move along a track.r Hydraulic jacks and arms move the trusses apart and stretch the fabric between them until the north and south sections seam the court. The speed of truss deployment is 214mm a second.r The coordinated electro mechanical movement also unfolds and stretches the fabric between the trusses until the two sections meet in an overlapping seam above the middle of the court.r The GORE TENARA architectural fabric, a patented PTFE material, is 0.5mm thick. The arch shape of the roof provides a clearance of 16m for high balls. The roof can withstand up to 43mph (69km/h) wind speeds.r In preparation for closing the roof, one section is parked in its folded state at the north end of the court while the other is parked at the south end.r Euro Quality Coatings (EQC) coated the new retractable roof system with Interpon D1036 polyester powder, coating the aluminum flashings and fabrications around the retractable roof to match the roof design.r Air-circulation systemr The circulation system will have to pump in 8l of fresh air a second, per person, to keep the temperature in the closed stadium at specified levels (24°C ± 2°C, with 50% ±10% relative humidity based on ambient conditions of 27°C with 72% relative humidity). It will also pump 143,000l of conditioned air a second to insulate the grass court from moisture.r It takes about ten minutes for the roof to unfold completely. During this time, traditional covering of the pitch will help the game to resume within ten to 30 minutes depending on the weather. The roof also improves the stadium's acoustics.r Lighting facilitiesr When natural light fails to meet visibility levels, it can be aided by a bespoke-design sports lighting system installed on the trusses. There are 72 indirect and 48 direct truss-mounted sports luminaries. On the turf, horizontal lighting level is 3,200 lux and for service and shots in the air, the vertical lighting level is 1,900 lux.r History of the Wimbledon roofr The original roof, built in the inaugural year 1922, was replaced in 1992. After the 2006 championships the roof was removed and 2007 championships were played with no roof.r "Centre Court's new folding roof is 65m × 75m of waterproof translucent material."r The new Centre Court roof comprises two distinct roofs. The main fixed roof is modelled on the 1922 dodecahedron form and covers the perimeter of the court. Above the fixed perimeter roof, the lightweight fabric retractable roof is set to retain the open-to-air stadium and focus spectators' attention on the action.r The placement of the roof followed the demolition and reconstruction of the existing east wing, together with the provision of an additional six rows of seating around the east, north and west wings.r On 17 May 2009, Andre Agassi with Stefanie Maria Graf and Tim Henman with Kim Clijsters inaugurated the closed-court game and successfully tested the air-conditioning system under the new roof. They were joined by opera singers Katherine Jenkins and Faryl Smith in the inaugural ceremony.r A new center court with a retractable roof is expected at Roland Garros, site of the French Open, if its renovation plan gains government approval. Recently, a local court ruling threw up a roadblock to the project, but tournament and city officials insisted it would go forward.r The U.S.T.A. confirmed last month to the Sports Business Journal that plans were proceeding on an Ashe roof, but the association had not yet received the necessary approval from the city and state of New York, nor had it determined a price or how exactly it would be paid for.r Wimbledon announced its Centre Court roof plan in 2004, construction began in 2007, and it was completed in 2009. Roland Garros officials have said they hope to have a roofed stadium by 2018, which means that if the U.S.T.A. can fast-track its renovations, it might beat the French Open in shielding its matches from rain.r When Ashe’s roof is finished, it will be a popular feature among players and fans, but it will not solve all the rain-delay problems, particularly if they come early in the tournament. Only so many matches can be played on the main stadium court, leaving the outside courts vulnerable to the elements.r “For certain reasons, it’s great,” said Andy Murray, the defending Open champion, at a news conference at the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio. “For TV and stuff, it’s fantastic. Always good that you know matches are going to get finished.r “I don’t particularly like going from indoors to outdoors to indoors. It’s also tough. But it’s good for TV. It’s good for fans that are watching. For the players that are scheduled on that court, it’s great.”r The tournament would like to keep its television partners happy, particularly because it recently announced an 11-year, $825 million contract with ESPN, which succeeds the rights deal with CBS that runs out in 2014.r “We love that the U.S.T.A. will have a roof come 2016 or 2017, and it will ensure an expedient conclusion to the U.S. Open,” said Jason Bernstein, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions.r ESPN was aware that a roof over Ashe was not among the improvements that the U.S.T.A. was planning while contract talks were going on.r “The fact that it will change will bring the venue to new heights,” Bernstein said. “It ensures that the matches will be completed, and therefore the tournament will go on as scheduled.”r Serena Williams, the world’s No. 1 player and a member of the WTA players’ council, said players had been briefed on the Open’s plans.r “Obviously, it’s going to be great,” she said at a news conference at the Western & Southern Open. While noting that “it’s going to take a really long time,” she added, “It’s good to know that they’re going for it.”

Score: 26.25

BUY DOR by reks on 31 Jul 2014 14:03

Price at rating: 0.15, now:

Hightex (HTIG) United States Tennis Association unveiled an ambitious renovation plan that reportedly cost $500 million and included two new stadiums, it was easy to notice what was not in the project.r By stocktalkr 31 Jul 2014 13:09:55 r Expected to cost more than $100 million, according to a U.S. Open press release, the roof is part of a larger, $550-million project to modernize the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The larger project will include construction of a new Louis Armstrong Stadium, a new grandstand, wider walkways, and improved roadway infrastructure around the grounds.r r The USTA retained ROSSETTI to create a new 20-year vision plan for the center, and the architecture firm is involved in other aspects of the project beyond the roof. Once the project is completed, the center will be able to accommodate an additional 10,000 visitors per day, increasing overall annual attendance by approximately 100,000, according to the press release.r In each of the last five years, as rainy weather created havoc with the United States Open schedule and forced the men’s final to a Monday afternoon, the question got louder.r Where’s the roof?r As Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open announced plans to add roofed stadiums to their facilities, the lack of one at the United States Open became more glaring.r Where’s the roof?r Last year, when the United States Tennis Association unveiled an ambitious renovation plan that reportedly cost $500 million and included two new stadiums, it was easy to notice what was not in the project.r Where’s the roof?r At last, the U.S.T.A. has an answer, announcing Wednesday that a retractable roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium would now be part of the renovation.r The news release Wednesday did not explain when the roof would be built or how much it would cost, and U.S.T.A. officials declined to comment on the project until a news conference Thursday with the roof’s designer.r The U.S.T.A. would probably like the roof to be in the first wave of its planned renovation, which could include a new Grandstand court by 2015. Under the previously announced plan, a new 15,000-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium could support a roof, but officials said at the time that Armstrong would not get a roof until Ashe did.r U.S.T.A. officials have long said they were committed to adding a roof on Ashe once technology allowed it. Over the past decade, they had commissioned at least four roof studies. The swamplike soil underneath Ashe and the size of the building, which seats more than 22,500, make adding a roof an engineering challenge. U.S.T.A. officials have emphasized that an Ashe roof would need to be five times larger than the one that spans Wimbledon’s Centre Court.r Rossetti Architects, the firm retained for the planned renovations, is also designing the roof for Ashe Stadium. Over the past 20 years, Rossetti Architects has designed a variety of major sports facilities around the world. Among its projects are soccer stadiums, including Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., but the only tennis site on its résumé is in Indian Wells, Calif., and it does not have a roof.r The United States Open was the only Grand Slam event that did not have an existing roof or plans for one on at least one showcase court. Melbourne Park, site of the Australian Open, has retractable roofs on two courts, with a third expected to be completed in time for the 2015 tournament.r Sources are now saying the same British company will build the new roof as its wimbledon build has been a worldwide success as has its Brazil Olympics venture.r Centre Court at Wimbledon gained its retractable roof in 2009, and the All England Club announced this year that a retractable roof would be put on Court 1 by 2019.r On 17 May 2009, Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in Wimbledon tested the functionality of its new retractable roof with upgraded 15,000-seat capacity. Designed and put in place by Hightex, 5,200m² of folding PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) fabric concertina will protect Centre Court from inclement weather.r Part of the long-term plan that the club announced in January 2004, the 40% translucent roof would allow natural light in but keep the dampness off the ground by controlled air conditioning. Another benefit of the roof is to maintain the optimum temperature for the growth of natural grass. The folding roof is 65m × 75m of waterproof translucent material. Galliford Try was the main contractor partnered with AELTC.r The seating capacity has been increased from 13,800 to 15,000 with an extra 470mm seat spacing. The new stand also features additional stairs and lifts.r "Wimbledon's lightweight fabric retractable roof is set to retain the open-to-air stadium and focus spectators' attention on the action."r Capita Symonds provided the structural engineering services, while Populous (Formerly HOK Sport) of London was the architect for the roof.r Wimbledon retractable roofr With a total of nine bays of structural fabric, the retractable roof is divided into two sections, with four bays in one section and five in the other. Ten steel trusses, each weighing 70t and spanning 77m, fasten the bays. Each truss is supported by a set of wheels that move along a track.r Hydraulic jacks and arms move the trusses apart and stretch the fabric between them until the north and south sections seam the court. The speed of truss deployment is 214mm a second.r The coordinated electro mechanical movement also unfolds and stretches the fabric between the trusses until the two sections meet in an overlapping seam above the middle of the court.r The GORE TENARA architectural fabric, a patented PTFE material, is 0.5mm thick. The arch shape of the roof provides a clearance of 16m for high balls. The roof can withstand up to 43mph (69km/h) wind speeds.r In preparation for closing the roof, one section is parked in its folded state at the north end of the court while the other is parked at the south end.r Euro Quality Coatings (EQC) coated the new retractable roof system with Interpon D1036 polyester powder, coating the aluminum flashings and fabrications around the retractable roof to match the roof design.r Air-circulation systemr The circulation system will have to pump in 8l of fresh air a second, per person, to keep the temperature in the closed stadium at specified levels (24°C ± 2°C, with 50% ±10% relative humidity based on ambient conditions of 27°C with 72% relative humidity). It will also pump 143,000l of conditioned air a second to insulate the grass court from moisture.r It takes about ten minutes for the roof to unfold completely. During this time, traditional covering of the pitch will help the game to resume within ten to 30 minutes depending on the weather. The roof also improves the stadium's acoustics.r Lighting facilitiesr When natural light fails to meet visibility levels, it can be aided by a bespoke-design sports lighting system installed on the trusses. There are 72 indirect and 48 direct truss-mounted sports luminaries. On the turf, horizontal lighting level is 3,200 lux and for service and shots in the air, the vertical lighting level is 1,900 lux.r History of the Wimbledon roofr The original roof, built in the inaugural year 1922, was replaced in 1992. After the 2006 championships the roof was removed and 2007 championships were played with no roof.r "Centre Court's new folding roof is 65m × 75m of waterproof translucent material."r The new Centre Court roof comprises two distinct roofs. The main fixed roof is modelled on the 1922 dodecahedron form and covers the perimeter of the court. Above the fixed perimeter roof, the lightweight fabric retractable roof is set to retain the open-to-air stadium and focus spectators' attention on the action.r The placement of the roof followed the demolition and reconstruction of the existing east wing, together with the provision of an additional six rows of seating around the east, north and west wings.r On 17 May 2009, Andre Agassi with Stefanie Maria Graf and Tim Henman with Kim Clijsters inaugurated the closed-court game and successfully tested the air-conditioning system under the new roof. They were joined by opera singers Katherine Jenkins and Faryl Smith in the inaugural ceremony.r A new center court with a retractable roof is expected at Roland Garros, site of the French Open, if its renovation plan gains government approval. Recently, a local court ruling threw up a roadblock to the project, but tournament and city officials insisted it would go forward.r The U.S.T.A. confirmed last month to the Sports Business Journal that plans were proceeding on an Ashe roof, but the association had not yet received the necessary approval from the city and state of New York, nor had it determined a price or how exactly it would be paid for.r Wimbledon announced its Centre Court roof plan in 2004, construction began in 2007, and it was completed in 2009. Roland Garros officials have said they hope to have a roofed stadium by 2018, which means that if the U.S.T.A. can fast-track its renovations, it might beat the French Open in shielding its matches from rain.r When Ashe’s roof is finished, it will be a popular feature among players and fans, but it will not solve all the rain-delay problems, particularly if they come early in the tournament. Only so many matches can be played on the main stadium court, leaving the outside courts vulnerable to the elements.r “For certain reasons, it’s great,” said Andy Murray, the defending Open champion, at a news conference at the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio. “For TV and stuff, it’s fantastic. Always good that you know matches are going to get finished.r “I don’t particularly like going from indoors to outdoors to indoors. It’s also tough. But it’s good for TV. It’s good for fans that are watching. For the players that are scheduled on that court, it’s great.”r The tournament would like to keep its television partners happy, particularly because it recently announced an 11-year, $825 million contract with ESPN, which succeeds the rights deal with CBS that runs out in 2014.r “We love that the U.S.T.A. will have a roof come 2016 or 2017, and it will ensure an expedient conclusion to the U.S. Open,” said Jason Bernstein, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions.r ESPN was aware that a roof over Ashe was not among the improvements that the U.S.T.A. was planning while contract talks were going on.r “The fact that it will change will bring the venue to new heights,” Bernstein said. “It ensures that the matches will be completed, and therefore the tournament will go on as scheduled.”r Serena Williams, the world’s No. 1 player and a member of the WTA players’ council, said players had been briefed on the Open’s plans.r “Obviously, it’s going to be great,” she said at a news conference at the Western & Southern Open. While noting that “it’s going to take a really long time,” she added, “It’s good to know that they’re going for it.”

Score: 7.50

BUY WTG by reks on 31 Jul 2014 14:03

Price at rating: 206.30, now:

Hightex (HTIG) United States Tennis Association unveiled an ambitious renovation plan that reportedly cost $500 million and included two new stadiums, it was easy to notice what was not in the project.r By stocktalkr 31 Jul 2014 13:09:55 r Expected to cost more than $100 million, according to a U.S. Open press release, the roof is part of a larger, $550-million project to modernize the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The larger project will include construction of a new Louis Armstrong Stadium, a new grandstand, wider walkways, and improved roadway infrastructure around the grounds.r r The USTA retained ROSSETTI to create a new 20-year vision plan for the center, and the architecture firm is involved in other aspects of the project beyond the roof. Once the project is completed, the center will be able to accommodate an additional 10,000 visitors per day, increasing overall annual attendance by approximately 100,000, according to the press release.r In each of the last five years, as rainy weather created havoc with the United States Open schedule and forced the men’s final to a Monday afternoon, the question got louder.r Where’s the roof?r As Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open announced plans to add roofed stadiums to their facilities, the lack of one at the United States Open became more glaring.r Where’s the roof?r Last year, when the United States Tennis Association unveiled an ambitious renovation plan that reportedly cost $500 million and included two new stadiums, it was easy to notice what was not in the project.r Where’s the roof?r At last, the U.S.T.A. has an answer, announcing Wednesday that a retractable roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium would now be part of the renovation.r The news release Wednesday did not explain when the roof would be built or how much it would cost, and U.S.T.A. officials declined to comment on the project until a news conference Thursday with the roof’s designer.r The U.S.T.A. would probably like the roof to be in the first wave of its planned renovation, which could include a new Grandstand court by 2015. Under the previously announced plan, a new 15,000-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium could support a roof, but officials said at the time that Armstrong would not get a roof until Ashe did.r U.S.T.A. officials have long said they were committed to adding a roof on Ashe once technology allowed it. Over the past decade, they had commissioned at least four roof studies. The swamplike soil underneath Ashe and the size of the building, which seats more than 22,500, make adding a roof an engineering challenge. U.S.T.A. officials have emphasized that an Ashe roof would need to be five times larger than the one that spans Wimbledon’s Centre Court.r Rossetti Architects, the firm retained for the planned renovations, is also designing the roof for Ashe Stadium. Over the past 20 years, Rossetti Architects has designed a variety of major sports facilities around the world. Among its projects are soccer stadiums, including Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., but the only tennis site on its résumé is in Indian Wells, Calif., and it does not have a roof.r The United States Open was the only Grand Slam event that did not have an existing roof or plans for one on at least one showcase court. Melbourne Park, site of the Australian Open, has retractable roofs on two courts, with a third expected to be completed in time for the 2015 tournament.r Sources are now saying the same British company will build the new roof as its wimbledon build has been a worldwide success as has its Brazil Olympics venture.r Centre Court at Wimbledon gained its retractable roof in 2009, and the All England Club announced this year that a retractable roof would be put on Court 1 by 2019.r On 17 May 2009, Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in Wimbledon tested the functionality of its new retractable roof with upgraded 15,000-seat capacity. Designed and put in place by Hightex, 5,200m² of folding PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) fabric concertina will protect Centre Court from inclement weather.r Part of the long-term plan that the club announced in January 2004, the 40% translucent roof would allow natural light in but keep the dampness off the ground by controlled air conditioning. Another benefit of the roof is to maintain the optimum temperature for the growth of natural grass. The folding roof is 65m × 75m of waterproof translucent material. Galliford Try was the main contractor partnered with AELTC.r The seating capacity has been increased from 13,800 to 15,000 with an extra 470mm seat spacing. The new stand also features additional stairs and lifts.r "Wimbledon's lightweight fabric retractable roof is set to retain the open-to-air stadium and focus spectators' attention on the action."r Capita Symonds provided the structural engineering services, while Populous (Formerly HOK Sport) of London was the architect for the roof.r Wimbledon retractable roofr With a total of nine bays of structural fabric, the retractable roof is divided into two sections, with four bays in one section and five in the other. Ten steel trusses, each weighing 70t and spanning 77m, fasten the bays. Each truss is supported by a set of wheels that move along a track.r Hydraulic jacks and arms move the trusses apart and stretch the fabric between them until the north and south sections seam the court. The speed of truss deployment is 214mm a second.r The coordinated electro mechanical movement also unfolds and stretches the fabric between the trusses until the two sections meet in an overlapping seam above the middle of the court.r The GORE TENARA architectural fabric, a patented PTFE material, is 0.5mm thick. The arch shape of the roof provides a clearance of 16m for high balls. The roof can withstand up to 43mph (69km/h) wind speeds.r In preparation for closing the roof, one section is parked in its folded state at the north end of the court while the other is parked at the south end.r Euro Quality Coatings (EQC) coated the new retractable roof system with Interpon D1036 polyester powder, coating the aluminum flashings and fabrications around the retractable roof to match the roof design.r Air-circulation systemr The circulation system will have to pump in 8l of fresh air a second, per person, to keep the temperature in the closed stadium at specified levels (24°C ± 2°C, with 50% ±10% relative humidity based on ambient conditions of 27°C with 72% relative humidity). It will also pump 143,000l of conditioned air a second to insulate the grass court from moisture.r It takes about ten minutes for the roof to unfold completely. During this time, traditional covering of the pitch will help the game to resume within ten to 30 minutes depending on the weather. The roof also improves the stadium's acoustics.r Lighting facilitiesr When natural light fails to meet visibility levels, it can be aided by a bespoke-design sports lighting system installed on the trusses. There are 72 indirect and 48 direct truss-mounted sports luminaries. On the turf, horizontal lighting level is 3,200 lux and for service and shots in the air, the vertical lighting level is 1,900 lux.r History of the Wimbledon roofr The original roof, built in the inaugural year 1922, was replaced in 1992. After the 2006 championships the roof was removed and 2007 championships were played with no roof.r "Centre Court's new folding roof is 65m × 75m of waterproof translucent material."r The new Centre Court roof comprises two distinct roofs. The main fixed roof is modelled on the 1922 dodecahedron form and covers the perimeter of the court. Above the fixed perimeter roof, the lightweight fabric retractable roof is set to retain the open-to-air stadium and focus spectators' attention on the action.r The placement of the roof followed the demolition and reconstruction of the existing east wing, together with the provision of an additional six rows of seating around the east, north and west wings.r On 17 May 2009, Andre Agassi with Stefanie Maria Graf and Tim Henman with Kim Clijsters inaugurated the closed-court game and successfully tested the air-conditioning system under the new roof. They were joined by opera singers Katherine Jenkins and Faryl Smith in the inaugural ceremony.r A new center court with a retractable roof is expected at Roland Garros, site of the French Open, if its renovation plan gains government approval. Recently, a local court ruling threw up a roadblock to the project, but tournament and city officials insisted it would go forward.r The U.S.T.A. confirmed last month to the Sports Business Journal that plans were proceeding on an Ashe roof, but the association had not yet received the necessary approval from the city and state of New York, nor had it determined a price or how exactly it would be paid for.r Wimbledon announced its Centre Court roof plan in 2004, construction began in 2007, and it was completed in 2009. Roland Garros officials have said they hope to have a roofed stadium by 2018, which means that if the U.S.T.A. can fast-track its renovations, it might beat the French Open in shielding its matches from rain.r When Ashe’s roof is finished, it will be a popular feature among players and fans, but it will not solve all the rain-delay problems, particularly if they come early in the tournament. Only so many matches can be played on the main stadium court, leaving the outside courts vulnerable to the elements.r “For certain reasons, it’s great,” said Andy Murray, the defending Open champion, at a news conference at the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio. “For TV and stuff, it’s fantastic. Always good that you know matches are going to get finished.r “I don’t particularly like going from indoors to outdoors to indoors. It’s also tough. But it’s good for TV. It’s good for fans that are watching. For the players that are scheduled on that court, it’s great.”r The tournament would like to keep its television partners happy, particularly because it recently announced an 11-year, $825 million contract with ESPN, which succeeds the rights deal with CBS that runs out in 2014.r “We love that the U.S.T.A. will have a roof come 2016 or 2017, and it will ensure an expedient conclusion to the U.S. Open,” said Jason Bernstein, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions.r ESPN was aware that a roof over Ashe was not among the improvements that the U.S.T.A. was planning while contract talks were going on.r “The fact that it will change will bring the venue to new heights,” Bernstein said. “It ensures that the matches will be completed, and therefore the tournament will go on as scheduled.”r Serena Williams, the world’s No. 1 player and a member of the WTA players’ council, said players had been briefed on the Open’s plans.r “Obviously, it’s going to be great,” she said at a news conference at the Western & Southern Open. While noting that “it’s going to take a really long time,” she added, “It’s good to know that they’re going for it.”...

Score: 6.25

BUY BHR by reks on 31 Jul 2014 14:03

Price at rating: 0.42, now:

Hightex (HTIG) United States Tennis Association unveiled an ambitious renovation plan that reportedly cost $500 million and included two new stadiums, it was easy to notice what was not in the project.r By stocktalkr 31 Jul 2014 13:09:55 r Expected to cost more than $100 million, according to a U.S. Open press release, the roof is part of a larger, $550-million project to modernize the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The larger project will include construction of a new Louis Armstrong Stadium, a new grandstand, wider walkways, and improved roadway infrastructure around the grounds.r r The USTA retained ROSSETTI to create a new 20-year vision plan for the center, and the architecture firm is involved in other aspects of the project beyond the roof. Once the project is completed, the center will be able to accommodate an additional 10,000 visitors per day, increasing overall annual attendance by approximately 100,000, according to the press release.r In each of the last five years, as rainy weather created havoc with the United States Open schedule and forced the men’s final to a Monday afternoon, the question got louder.r Where’s the roof?r As Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open announced plans to add roofed stadiums to their facilities, the lack of one at the United States Open became more glaring.r Where’s the roof?r Last year, when the United States Tennis Association unveiled an ambitious renovation plan that reportedly cost $500 million and included two new stadiums, it was easy to notice what was not in the project.r Where’s the roof?r At last, the U.S.T.A. has an answer, announcing Wednesday that a retractable roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium would now be part of the renovation.r The news release Wednesday did not explain when the roof would be built or how much it would cost, and U.S.T.A. officials declined to comment on the project until a news conference Thursday with the roof’s designer.r The U.S.T.A. would probably like the roof to be in the first wave of its planned renovation, which could include a new Grandstand court by 2015. Under the previously announced plan, a new 15,000-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium could support a roof, but officials said at the time that Armstrong would not get a roof until Ashe did.r U.S.T.A. officials have long said they were committed to adding a roof on Ashe once technology allowed it. Over the past decade, they had commissioned at least four roof studies. The swamplike soil underneath Ashe and the size of the building, which seats more than 22,500, make adding a roof an engineering challenge. U.S.T.A. officials have emphasized that an Ashe roof would need to be five times larger than the one that spans Wimbledon’s Centre Court.r Rossetti Architects, the firm retained for the planned renovations, is also designing the roof for Ashe Stadium. Over the past 20 years, Rossetti Architects has designed a variety of major sports facilities around the world. Among its projects are soccer stadiums, including Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., but the only tennis site on its résumé is in Indian Wells, Calif., and it does not have a roof.r The United States Open was the only Grand Slam event that did not have an existing roof or plans for one on at least one showcase court. Melbourne Park, site of the Australian Open, has retractable roofs on two courts, with a third expected to be completed in time for the 2015 tournament.r Sources are now saying the same British company will build the new roof as its wimbledon build has been a worldwide success as has its Brazil Olympics venture.r Centre Court at Wimbledon gained its retractable roof in 2009, and the All England Club announced this year that a retractable roof would be put on Court 1 by 2019.r On 17 May 2009, Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in Wimbledon tested the functionality of its new retractable roof with upgraded 15,000-seat capacity. Designed and put in place by Hightex, 5,200m² of folding PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) fabric concertina will protect Centre Court from inclement weather.r Part of the long-term plan that the club announced in January 2004, the 40% translucent roof would allow natural light in but keep the dampness off the ground by controlled air conditioning. Another benefit of the roof is to maintain the optimum temperature for the growth of natural grass. The folding roof is 65m × 75m of waterproof translucent material. Galliford Try was the main contractor partnered with AELTC.r The seating capacity has been increased from 13,800 to 15,000 with an extra 470mm seat spacing. The new stand also features additional stairs and lifts.r "Wimbledon's lightweight fabric retractable roof is set to retain the open-to-air stadium and focus spectators' attention on the action."r Capita Symonds provided the structural engineering services, while Populous (Formerly HOK Sport) of London was the architect for the roof.r Wimbledon retractable roofr With a total of nine bays of structural fabric, the retractable roof is divided into two sections, with four bays in one section and five in the other. Ten steel trusses, each weighing 70t and spanning 77m, fasten the bays. Each truss is supported by a set of wheels that move along a track.r Hydraulic jacks and arms move the trusses apart and stretch the fabric between them until the north and south sections seam the court. The speed of truss deployment is 214mm a second.r The coordinated electro mechanical movement also unfolds and stretches the fabric between the trusses until the two sections meet in an overlapping seam above the middle of the court.r The GORE TENARA architectural fabric, a patented PTFE material, is 0.5mm thick. The arch shape of the roof provides a clearance of 16m for high balls. The roof can withstand up to 43mph (69km/h) wind speeds.r In preparation for closing the roof, one section is parked in its folded state at the north end of the court while the other is parked at the south end.r Euro Quality Coatings (EQC) coated the new retractable roof system with Interpon D1036 polyester powder, coating the aluminum flashings and fabrications around the retractable roof to match the roof design.r Air-circulation systemr The circulation system will have to pump in 8l of fresh air a second, per person, to keep the temperature in the closed stadium at specified levels (24°C ± 2°C, with 50% ±10% relative humidity based on ambient conditions of 27°C with 72% relative humidity). It will also pump 143,000l of conditioned air a second to insulate the grass court from moisture.r It takes about ten minutes for the roof to unfold completely. During this time, traditional covering of the pitch will help the game to resume within ten to 30 minutes depending on the weather. The roof also improves the stadium's acoustics.r Lighting facilitiesr When natural light fails to meet visibility levels, it can be aided by a bespoke-design sports lighting system installed on the trusses. There are 72 indirect and 48 direct truss-mounted sports luminaries. On the turf, horizontal lighting level is 3,200 lux and for service and shots in the air, the vertical lighting level is 1,900 lux.r History of the Wimbledon roofr The original roof, built in the inaugural year 1922, was replaced in 1992. After the 2006 championships the roof was removed and 2007 championships were played with no roof.r "Centre Court's new folding roof is 65m × 75m of waterproof translucent material."r The new Centre Court roof comprises two distinct roofs. The main fixed roof is modelled on the 1922 dodecahedron form and covers the perimeter of the court. Above the fixed perimeter roof, the lightweight fabric retractable roof is set to retain the open-to-air stadium and focus spectators' attention on the action.r The placement of the roof followed the demolition and reconstruction of the existing east wing, together with the provision of an additional six rows of seating around the east, north and west wings.r On 17 May 2009, Andre Agassi with Stefanie Maria Graf and Tim Henman with Kim Clijsters inaugurated the closed-court game and successfully tested the air-conditioning system under the new roof. They were joined by opera singers Katherine Jenkins and Faryl Smith in the inaugural ceremony.r A new center court with a retractable roof is expected at Roland Garros, site of the French Open, if its renovation plan gains government approval. Recently, a local court ruling threw up a roadblock to the project, but tournament and city officials insisted it would go forward.r The U.S.T.A. confirmed last month to the Sports Business Journal that plans were proceeding on an Ashe roof, but the association had not yet received the necessary approval from the city and state of New York, nor had it determined a price or how exactly it would be paid for.r Wimbledon announced its Centre Court roof plan in 2004, construction began in 2007, and it was completed in 2009. Roland Garros officials have said they hope to have a roofed stadium by 2018, which means that if the U.S.T.A. can fast-track its renovations, it might beat the French Open in shielding its matches from rain.r When Ashe’s roof is finished, it will be a popular feature among players and fans, but it will not solve all the rain-delay problems, particularly if they come early in the tournament. Only so many matches can be played on the main stadium court, leaving the outside courts vulnerable to the elements.r “For certain reasons, it’s great,” said Andy Murray, the defending Open champion, at a news conference at the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio. “For TV and stuff, it’s fantastic. Always good that you know matches are going to get finished.r “I don’t particularly like going from indoors to outdoors to indoors. It’s also tough. But it’s good for TV. It’s good for fans that are watching. For the players that are scheduled on that court, it’s great.”r The tournament would like to keep its television partners happy, particularly because it recently announced an 11-year, $825 million contract with ESPN, which succeeds the rights deal with CBS that runs out in 2014.r “We love that the U.S.T.A. will have a roof come 2016 or 2017, and it will ensure an expedient conclusion to the U.S. Open,” said Jason Bernstein, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions.r ESPN was aware that a roof over Ashe was not among the improvements that the U.S.T.A. was planning while contract talks were going on.r “The fact that it will change will bring the venue to new heights,” Bernstein said. “It ensures that the matches will be completed, and therefore the tournament will go on as scheduled.”r Serena Williams, the world’s No. 1 player and a member of the WTA players’ council, said players had been briefed on the Open’s plans.r “Obviously, it’s going to be great,” she said at a news conference at the Western & Southern Open. While noting that “it’s going to take a really long time,” she added, “It’s good to know that they’re going for it.”.

Score: 31.25