Fact Sheet: IBM and USTA Serve Up a Fan’s-Eye-View on Official U.S. Open Web site

N/A

N/A (August 31, 1998) – U.S. Open, powered by IBM and live at http://www.usopen.org, provides millions of tennis fans around the world with the hottest ticket in town — a “virtual” front row seat to the U.S. Open tennis championships. Whether they’re seeking the latest scores, searching for a tournament souvenir, news or views, tennis fans can hit the ‘Net at www.usopen.org for the most comprehensive 1998 U.S. Open information on the Web.
This year, http://www.usopen.org features added and enhanced interactive components to bring fans closer to the action. These include: chat sessions and forums; a player postcard section; an enhanced Java scoreboard and daily United States Tennis Association (USTA) Net Polls.
For the fourth consecutive year, the USTA and IBM are collaborating to produce the official U.S. Open Web site. It is expected to be more popular than last year’s site which recorded over 60 million hits during the 1997 U.S. Open tournament.
Highlights of www.usopen.org include:
Java Scoreboard – The Java scoreboard shows real-time, point-by-point score updates from every match and for every player. Users can launch it on their desktop computers for quick access to continuously updated match scores and statistics.
Daily Chats and USTA NetPolls – For the first time at a Grand Slam tournament, the U.S. Open Web site will feature live chat sessions. Fans can volley observations and opinions in four chat rooms, including one specially for kids (NetKids). During the U.S. Open tournament, daily USTA Net Polls will be accessible through the News section of the official Web site so fans can instantly weigh-in on breaking tournament news.
On-line Merchandise – Fans worldwide can purchase exclusive U.S. Open tournament merchandise via the enhanced on-line U.S. Open Shop.
Player Postcards – Send your favorite player a postcard via the official U.S. Open Web site. A new player postcard section allows fans to send messages to players competing in the tournament. Players can read and respond to fan messages at the IBM terminals at the players’ lounge Cyber Court presented by IBM.
News and Reviews – Here tennis fans can find the latest news, results, match summaries and statistics, feature stories and complete interview transcripts.
Sights and Sounds – Streaming audio “recap” interviews and a streaming video gallery of player interview clips keep fans around the world close to the action.
The official 1998 U.S. Open Web site was designed, hosted and powered by IBM for the USTA. www.usopen.org was designed and developed by IBM’s interactive media group in Atlanta in conjunction with the USTA communications and marketing departments. Hosted on the IBM Global Network, the site runs on IBM RS/6000 SPs using Lotus Notes client and Lotus Domino server software, the same winning combination that powered the official Web site of the 1998 Olympic Winter Games to world records for a sporting event on the Internet.

Source: IBM

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