Red Bull's Bassline event aims to revolutionize tennis with an innovative format featuring tie-breaks, crowd interaction, and a DJ. Held at Melbourne Park, the event sought to attract a younger audience with its unique approach but faced challenges with attendance.
It’s the competition that claims to showcase a new side of tennis. But exactly what is Red Bull ’s Bassline event? And was its debut a success at Melbourne Park?This exhibition aims to be an “innovative format” which allows players and fans to “experience tennis like never before”.The rules are different to a traditional match. Six players are split into two teams and compete in a knockout-based tournament, where all the games are tie-breaks.
There are no umpires – leaving players to settle disputes among themselves.There’s an MC who leads the proceedings, along with a DJ. The crowd – normally told to be quiet – are encouraged to cheer for their favourite players during points. “Bassline is all about bringing fans closer to the players ,” Tennis Australia’s chief commercial officer Cedric Cornelis said. The format has gained popularity in Europe, with events being held in locations like Vienna and Madrid. It’s also well-liked by those on tour:If Bassline was an attempt to rally a younger tennis audience – it did an OK job. MC Dylan Alcott and Barbara Schett worked hard to fire up the crowd, and the game itself was entertaining. It definitely provided a different offering to a traditional tennis match. The play was fast-paced, and games only lasted a matter of minutes. A resident DJ presided over the court, playing an ever-changing assortment of (very loud) club tracks and 2000s hits for the crowd. But it’s safe to say the event was missing a certain buzz. The near-15,000-seat Rod Laver Arena was nowhere near its capacity, and the format would have benefited from a full house as it relied a lot on audience noise and participation.The match gave fans the chance to hear more from the players than usual too, with on court interviews throughout the night. Even the player warm-ups, normally tucked away behind closed doors, happened on the sideline
TENNIS EXHIBITION RED BULL BASSLINE INNOVATION
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