32 events in USA provide a quarter of PSA prize money
By SEAN REUTHE
The Professional Squash Association (PSA) and US Squash have agreed to intensify their partnership in an effort to continue the significant growth of PSA tournaments and associated prize money in the United States over the coming years.
Total prize money on offer at US-based PSA tournaments has nearly doubled to $1,725,000 since the U.S. Open became the first World Series squash tournament to offer parity in earnings for men and women back in 2013.
As a result, the United States is the biggest market for professional squash, with the 32 PSA tournaments staged in the United States in 2017 accounting for over a quarter of the total available prize money on the PSA World Tour this year.
“Our partnership with US Squash has already proven fruitful over the past years, but we both believe that working closer together will benefit both parties even further”, said PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough.
“US Squash deserves to be credited for their help in the growth of professional squash in the United States and they are leading the way in many other areas of the game as well. Squash is thriving in the United States and the upsurge at junior and college level will no doubt have a positive effect on professional squash in due course.”
The expanded partnership between both organisations will be centred around a range of topics, including a continued focus to grow the number of PSA tournaments and related prize money in the United States, the execution of joint initiatives to increase the number of US-born PSA members, the promotion of professional squash and PSA’s video streaming platform SQUASHTV, the production and distribution of dedicated content, and the use of each other’s expertise, technology and products.
Furthermore, the parties will align with the World Squash Federation (WSF) and other key stakeholders within the sport to strive towards the inclusion of squash on the Olympic Games programme, which has become even more relevant for US Squash now that the 2028 Olympic Games has been awarded to Los Angeles.
US Squash President and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Klipstein, applauded the PSA’s improvements to both the men’s and women’s game in recent years, saying: “The PSA has been instrumental in the improved visibility of our sport, both in the United States and abroad. The launch of SQUASHTV in 2010 has been a game-changer and the integration of the women’s Tour with the PSA in 2015 has been fantastic for the sport.
“We are excited about the prospect of working more closely together with the PSA. We have the tools to promote professional squash under our considerable base of recreational, competition, junior and college players in the United States and will use these tools, such as Club Locker, to bridge the gap between professional squash and the grassroots level.
“Similarly, we will look to support the development of a global officiating program in conjunction with the WSF and the PSA.”
The strengthened collaboration between the PSA and US Squash follows on the back of the recent announcement that the PSA and the WSF have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the two bodies work in unison towards achieving a joint vision for the future of squash on a global scale. The PSA is also in advanced discussions with other national federations to work more closely together.
About the Professional Squash Association
The Professional Squash Association (PSA) is the global governing body responsible for the administration of both men’s and women’s professional squash around the world. With almost 900 registered players and more than 200 events taking place around the globe every year, the PSA World Tour – managed and run by the PSA – showcases the game of squash at its highest level in some of the world’s most unique and stunning locations.
Encapsulating all that is good about top-flight professional squash and combining athleticism, skill, fitness, tenacity, power, drama and above all else, passion, the PSA World Tour is the pinnacle of world squash.
About US Squash
US Squash is a non-profit organisation which serves as the only national governing body and membership organisation for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1904 and headquartered in New York City, it is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, the Pan American Squash Federation and the World Squash Federation.
US Squash’s mission is to lead squash’s growth and development by increasing access and awareness, supporting meaningful lifelong engagement in the sport, and encouraging sportsmanship while achieving competitive excellence at the highest levels.
More information about the PSA and US Squash can be found at www.psaworldtour.com
and www.ussquash.com
Picture and graphic courtesy of PSA and US Squash