Kamil Patel, one of the centre's founders and a member of the Africa Tennis Tour (ATT), has long felt that the global game needed events on the African continent that features top players from all over the world. Having attracted the first open tournament to Mauritius the need to increase spectator viewing facilities had to be addressed.
An internet search led Patel to Arena Seating, as the compnay's track record includes installing seating in prestigious tennis events including the Wimbledon Championships and the Stella Artois Championships. Arena was brought in to design and build three extra grandstands suitable for the Open Tennis Tournament.
Arena project manager, Kevin Cox was the lucky man charged with ensuring the clients' requirements were met. The area for the two stands at the side of the court presented no problems, however the third stand was a little trickier as its location moved from the initial plans on a level part of the centre to one that "resembled the surface of the moon"; Cox commented: "Two large excavators were required, after hours of intense work, clearing the site, we then had to bring in six lorry loads of hard core and chippings and to the area before we were able to start laying out the third stand. All of which was hot work, but the friendly people and conditions made installing the grandstands in Mauritius a pleasure."
Despite the intense heat and the alteration of the original plans, the stands were completed in less than a week. Mike Lynch of the Africa Tennis Tournaments commented; "The decision by ATT to import the stands for the tournament was a wise one as they certainly enhanced the spectator reaction to the event. The Arena Seating technicians who travelled to Mauritius to erect the stands were highly professional and helpful, sparing no effort to ensure that the job was completed on time and to our satisfaction."
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
