Atlanta Tennis Championships to Offer Weeklong Ticket Packages

Weeklong ticket packages are now on sale for the 2012 edition of the Atlanta Tennis Championships.  The tournament, which will be the first men’s event in the Emirates Airline US Open Series, is set for Atlantic Station July 14-22.

Tournament organizers are telling fans to get their tickets early.

Premium seats are available in five categories, all of which offer the best viewing of the best players in the world competing on the ATP World Tour. Former No. 1 Andy Roddick, Top 10 player John Isner and US Open Mixed Doubles champion Jack Sock will lead a star-studded field at this year’s tournament.

The tournament will offer Champagne Suites, Courtside Seats, Platinum Seats, Gold Reserved Seats and Silver Reserved Seats. The suites and Courtside Seat packages provide access to the Courtside Club and VIP Lounge. All packages include tickets to the tournament’s 11 sessions.

Weeklong tickets are available by going to www.atlantatennischampionships.com and through the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ATChampionships. Individual session tickets will be available beginning in May.

Additionally, the ATC announced a new site plan with a 3,612-seat Stadium Court with seating on all four sides and improved viewing angles. Stadium Court and the Grandstand Court, which will seat an additional 784 spectators, will be located in the complex’s northeast corner, in full view of the magnificent Atlanta skyline and with an unrivaled exposure to more than 500,000 vehicles a day passing on the I-75/85 corridor.

“We want the entire metro Atlanta community to see our facility and feel the heartbeat of tennis in the city this July,” said Tournament Director Bob Bryant. “By moving our Stadium Court to the edge of Atlantic Station we have a dedicated tournament grounds, added natural shade elements and unrivaled visibility and accessibility. Additionally, we are expanding our plan for seating and providing fantastic viewing of Stadium Court from the north and south ends as well as increasing VIP seating options including Champagne Suites and covered seats.”

“The Atlanta Tennis Championships site configuration and court locations within Atlantic Station give our guests, residents and office workers direct and easy access to the main events” said North American Properties Managing Partner Mark Toro. “Placing the two main courts with the Midtown skyline backdrop right in the heart of our city will provide a tennis-going experience like no other.”

At least four courts will be built south of 17th Street. One court will used as a third competition court, and the other three for practice.

For special events, tennis demonstrations and other engaging activities, a Family Zone will be built in Atlantic Station’s Central Park. Shoppers, restaurant goers, residents, office workers and others enjoying the complex’s unique atmosphere will be able to participate in tennis and watch events there. Events will focus on kids’ activities, especially the hugely successful USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis initiative.

2012 Packers Preseason Schedule Released

The 2012 preseason schedule has been released, and it will take the team around the country.

Green Bay's exhibition opener will be Aug. 9 at San Diego. The Packers will host Cleveland in the Midwest Shrine Game in Week 2, play at Cincinnati in Week 3, and close out the preseason, at home with Kansas City. The dates and times for the final three games are to be determined.

Few Pictures From Day 2 of the Family Circle Cup

Day 2 of the Family Circle Cup is in the books.  The qualifiers have been placed in the draw and the #1 seed has pulled out.  Such is the week in, week out grind of the WTA Tour.

Here are some pictures from today's action:

Welcome to Daniel IslandIveta Benesova qualifiesPaula Ormeachea qualifiesSerena Williams sets up shop in CharlestonAnastasia Pavlyuchenkova

ACC Tournament Open Practice at Philips Arena

The ACC Basketball Tournament is in Atlanta this week at Philips Arena.

An open practice was held all day on Wednesday.

It's a chance for teams to get familiar with the confines of Philips Arena, although Georgia Tech used it as a home court this season, so most of the players have already seen it.

Some teams use this practice as a real practice, and other teams like NC State used it to goof around and take half-court shots and conduct a slam dunk contest while their head coach, Mark Gottfried socialized with everyone in the arena.

Here are some pics:

Maryland and coach Mark TurgeonWake Forest's Jeff Bzdelik

Mark Gottfried talks with Debbie Antonelli

Are Changes Afoot at Dancing With the Stars?

Will one of "Dancing With the Stars" most popular pro dancers be left off the dance floor this season?

Maksim Chmerkovskiy, the self proclaimed "bad boy" of dance  told the Canadian version of "Entertainment Tonight" that he may not be invited back for the upcoming season of hit ABC show, which will start next month.

"I still don't know if I'm on the show," Chmerkovskiy has said. "I didn't get the call yet."

Maks is known for getting the most out of his celebrity partners, but last season he had a battle with lead judge Len Goodman. After Goodman noted he had been involved in the dance business for 50 years, Chmerkovskiy let him have it: "Maybe it's time to go!" Asked a few minutes later, Chmerkovskiy committed a memorable: "With all due respect, this is my show."

While it isn't Chmerkovskiy's show per say, he's one of the reasons millions of people tune in to see it.  he moves the meter, and show exectutives will probably see he needs to come back.