News

NEW YORK — In its 20th year as a US Open partner, American Express is introducing a suite of innovative digital and on-site benefits, designed to serve tennis fans the finest of the US Open, both on and off the courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

“Whether it’s perfecting their swing, following the matches on the go, or introducing the game to the next generation of fans, we aim to make the US Open Fan experience as fun and exciting as the action on the courts.”

“We want to give our Card Members and all tennis fans a US Open experience that enhances their passion for the game,” said Deborah Curtis, vice president of sports & entertainment marketing at American Express. “Whether it’s perfecting their swing, following the matches on the go, or introducing the game to the next generation of fans, we aim to make the US Open Fan experience as fun and exciting as the action on the courts.”

This year, American Express is offering even more ways for tennis fans to get involved with the action of the US Open and enjoy a truly customized experience throughout the two weeks of Championship play:

The US Open American Express® Fan Experience

For the third year at the US Open American Express Fan Experience, fans can perfect their game, catch the action on the courts and challenge their friends to a match. The Fan Experience, which is located indoors just inside the East Gate, features 20,000 square feet of interactive programming for all fans at the US Open, including:

Fans Get Closer to the Action with US Open TrendCast from American Express

New this year, American Express is launching US Open TrendCast, a social-based fan experience that brings together trending topics and original radio programming. TrendCast, featured within the official US Open app, tracks the Championship’s hottest stories via Twitter so that fans can explore trending topics and join the conversation directly from the app. Each day, the most popular social topics and fan Tweets help shape programming for the TrendCast Radio Show, which will be broadcast live from the Fan Experience daily at 4:00 p.m. EST. Fans can watch the 30-minute broadcast live from the Fan Experience or listen in on USOpen.org Radio. Tennis analysts Steve Flink and Matt Cronin will co-host the show offering their take on socially trending topics, highlighting fan comments, and answering the most popular fan Tweeted questions.

American Express Radio Live at the Open

Once again, American Express’ popular complimentary radios will be available for American Express Card Members every day of the Open, featuring live play-by-play commentary and match updates from CBS, ESPN and the Tennis Channel. All tennis fans visiting on American Express Day at the US Open, Monday, September 2, have the opportunity to pick-up a radio. Twenty-thousand radios will be available at the Fan Experience or at any American Express satellite location on the grounds for non-Card Members that day.

Exclusive Offers for Card Members On-site

Card Members who sync their eligible American Express Card with their Facebook, Foursquare or Twitter account at Sync.AmericanExpress.com can unlock an exclusive offer to receive a one-time $10 statement credit when they use their synced American Express Card and spend $20 or more on-site at the US Open.i US Open fans who spend $150 on their American Express® Card on merchandise and concessions are eligible to receive a $50 Ralph Lauren e-gift card to be used after the tournament in Ralph Lauren stores and at RalphLauren.com. Card Members can learn more about these offers and sync their Cards at the Fan Experience or at any American Express satellite location.

World Class Customer Service Served Up at the Open

From the baseline to the frontline, American Express Customer Care Professionals will be on-site at the Fan Experience and throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center delivering their special brand of Relationship Care® servicing to its customers. Having deeply knowledgeable Customer Care Professionals on-site to answer inquiries about Card services and rewards helps ensure customers are taking full advantage of product benefits. As service is the cornerstone of the American Express brand, the event’s in-person servicing is another way the company takes care of its customers.

Player Partners Passionate About Fresh Courts Refurbishments

Fresh Courts is a community funding effort in which American Express, in partnership with the USTA, invests in developing new generations of tennis fans, players and champions by renovating existing tennis facilities across the United States. For the first time, American Express and the USTA collaborated with three of the brightest stars in American tennis – Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys and Jack Sock – to identify community tennis courts they would like to see refurbished. Each player selected a location he or she is passionate about: Sloane Stephens selected courts for The Prince George’s Tennis and Education Foundation in Largo, Maryland; Madison Keys chose Hodges Park in her hometown of Rock Island, Illinois; and Jack Sock identified hometown courts in Irvingdale Park in Lincoln, Nebraska. Since 2010, American Express and the USTA have refurbished more than 80 courts across the United States.