Less than a week after announcing a new Super Series event in Egypt, the Professional Squash Association today reveals that the English city of Manchester will host the British Grand Prix squash championship at the National Squash Centre in Sportcity from the 15-20 September.
The new event completes the PSA Super Series 2010 series at ten confirmed events.
The internationalSPORTgroup™ British Grand Prix – Manchester 2010, the first event of a pioneering three-year agreement between Manchester City Council and event promoters internationalSPORTgroup™, will be the first European Super Series event on the restructured PSA World Tour, boasting the largest prize money offered by any World Tour ranking event in Europe.
This latest agreement builds upon a successful partnership between Manchester and internationalSPORTgroup™ which has flourished since first staging the British Grand Prix at the National Squash Centre in 2004, and ensures that a leading international squash championship will remain in the city alongside the British National Championships which Manchester have hosted for the past fourteen years.
The British Grand Prix reinforces Manchester’s ambition to be recognised as one of the world’s leading squash destinations, alongside New York, Mumbai, Cairo, Canberra, Hong Kong, Kuwait City, Doha, and Saudi Arabia.
Eamonn O’Rourke, Head of Leisure, Manchester City Council, said: "We’re delighted to be hosting the British Grand Prix for the next three years and we look forward to welcoming the world’s finest squash players to Manchester for such a prestigious tournament which will attract thousands of sports fans to the city.
"Since the highly successful 2002 XVII Commonwealth Games, Manchester has developed a reputation for hosting world class events. The British Grand Prix, alongside the National Championships which have found a home in Manchester for the past fourteen years, will play a pivotal role in showcasing the city’s unrivalled squash development programme and further cement our position as a world class sporting destination. In addition, this event will support our plans to once again bring the World Squash Championships to the City.”
PSA Chief Executive Officer Alex Gough echoed the comments of the hosting city: "This latest announcement is further proof of Manchester’s world class sports programme and it is exciting that squash should be showcased in this way. We saw Manchester host the Men's and Women's World Opens in 2008 and are delighted that we are continuing this partnership with such an important sporting city. We are also working to redevelop the British Open in a new and unique way, including moving it to April, and so have both a magnificent curtain raiser and an exciting finale to the English season."
England's world No2 Nick Matthew, the reigning British National Champion and a winner of the British Grand Prix title in 2007, said: "This is a very exciting time for squash and the elevation of the British Grand Prix to Europe’s leading PSA Super Series World Tour event is further evidence of the success of the men’s international circuit and great news for the players who love playing in front of Manchester’s loyal and knowledgeable crowds."
Rebecca Livesey, Interim Chief Executive of Manchester Sport and Leisure Trust, which manages sports facilities in the City, said: "The National Squash Centre is regarded as one of the finest purpose-built squash venues in the world and we look forward to welcoming the world’s very best players back to Manchester for another fantastic squash event."
internationalSPORTgroup™ Chief Executive Officer Paul Walters concluded: "We are very appreciative of the continued support of Manchester City Council and are confident that the British Grand Prix will prove to be a hugely successful long term addition to the PSA World Tour.
"Furthermore, the proposed dates of the 15th to 20th September will ensure that this year’s event will be the last major event prior to the Commonwealth Games in India, which in turn will further raise media interest and awareness of the championships," added Walters.