KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the U.S. Tennis Association has announced that the 2020 USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships will no longer be held at Kalamazoo College this year.
This marks the first time the event will not be held at the institution, which has been the host for the last 77 years.
The USTA released the following statement via Facebook post on Wednesday, which can be read in full below:
“Due to health and safety concerns for athletes, guests, volunteers, and the Kalamazoo community at large, Kalamazoo College leadership has made the difficult decision to not host the USTA Boys National Championships, August 7-16, 2020. This decision came through consultation with a group of medical and public health professionals, community leaders, tournament supporters, as well as those within the sports industry. Collectively, the concern is safety and we simply do not know enough about COVID-19 or how to ensure the health of athletes, guests, volunteers and the community. As United States sporting associations and events of this magnitude have been suspended or postponed in 2020, there is no template to safeguard the transmission of COVID-19 as of now.
Kalamazoo is our home and has been for 77 years and we want it to be our home for another 77 years and beyond. We are excited to welcome back the Boys’ Nationals to Kalamazoo in 2021!”
According to Wood TV 8, the event will instead be held at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.
Meanwhile, WWMT reported that the event may have brought in as much as $1.4 million dollars into the Kalamazoo economy.
