World TeamTennis Champion NY Buzz Move to UAlbany

 

ALBANY, N.Y. (February 3, 2009) -- The Advanta World TeamTennis (WTT) champion New York Buzz will call the SEFCU Arena at the University at Albany home for the 2009 season. One of the WTT's premier teams, the Buzz captured their first championship in 2008.

The Buzz, who play in the Advanta WTT Pro League's Eastern Conference, is one of  11 teams from throughout the U.S. competing in World TeamTennis. The team spent last season at the Washington Avenue Armory in Albany after playing 13 years at Central Park in Schenectady. Past seasons' highlights have included matches featuring tennis stars and champions Serena Williams, Pete Sampras, and Anna Kournikova.

"We look forward to welcoming the New York Buzz to our campus this summer," said University at Albany Interim President George Philip. "We hope this is the beginning of a very long and productive collaboration."

"We�re excited that UAlbany has created a partnership with WTT and the New York Buzz to bring their 2009 championship to the SEFCU Arena," said Michael J. Castellana, SEFCU�s president and CEO. "This is a unique sporting event and it will help to benefit the UAlbany community and the Capital Region at large."

�This is another example of a public-private partnership that is critical in our current economic climate.  We are thrilled to provide events or activities that help to improve the quality of life in the Capital Region," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy.

"UAlbany is a perfect setting to showcase our world-class tennis players," said New York Buzz owner Nitty Singh. "SEFCU Arena is an ideal venue for our players, fans, and sponsors, and we look forward to being here a long time."

SEFCU Arena is the home of the university's men's and women's basketball teams, and is a major venue for community events, sporting events, and university activities. The arena has seating for capacity crowds of 4,538. The facility hosted 2006's America East Conference Men's Basketball Championship before a sold-out crowd and will host this year's America East Men's Basketball Tournament in March. The Arena traditionally has been the site for the University's Winter Commencement, as well as local events including high school basketball and track tournaments. In addition, rock and pop concerts, with such musical personalities as Sheryl Crow and Green Day, have been held in the arena.

About Advanta World TeamTennis
The 2009 season will be the 34th year of World TeamTennis action. WTT is known for introducing innovative elements to tennis including instant replay, co-ed format, cumulative and no-ad scoring, on-court coaching, Supertiebreakers, multi-colored courts and player names on back of their shirts.

The unique gender-balanced team concept for WTT was created in the early 1970s by League co-founders Billie Jean King and Larry King. The format used for a WTT Pro League match features teams comprising two men, two women, and a coach. Each match consists of five sets, with one set each of men�s and women�s singles, men�s and women�s doubles and mixed doubles.

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Educationally and culturally, the University at Albany-SUNY puts "The World Within Reach" for its 18,000 students. An internationally recognized research university with 58 undergraduate majors and 128 graduate degree programs, UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as public policy, nanotechnology and criminal justice. With a curriculum enhanced by 300 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers. For more information about this globally ranked University, visit www.albany.edu. For UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts, visit www.albany.edu/news/experts.shtml.