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CHART-TOPPING MUSIC ACTS FLO RIDA, ZARA
LARSSON,
TROYE SIVAN, JORDAN FISHER, LAURA MARANO
AND FOREVER IN YOUR MIND JOIN TENNIS
SUPERSTARS
NOVAK DJOKOVIC AND RAFAEL NADAL FOR
ARTHUR ASHE KIDS' DAY PRESENTED BY HESS
World's Preeminent Tennis & Music Festival
Kicks-Off 2016 US Open on Saturday, August 27th at
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing
Meadow, Queens
ABC to Host Broadcast for First Time
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y The
United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced a
star-studded lineup for the 2016
Arthur Ashe Kids? Day presented by Hess. The
stadium show will include live performances from
chart-topping hip hop artist Flo Rida, international pop
sensation Zara Larsson, singer-songwriter Troye Sivan,
buzzworthy pop/R&B artist Jordan Fisher, award-winning
singer-actress Laura Marano and breakout band Forever In
Your Mind. They'll team-up with tennis superstars Novak
Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and others for a day of tennis, music
and fun to honor the legacy of legendary pioneer Arthur
Ashe. Disney Channel's Joey
Bragg will
co-host this year's show along with Jordan
Fisher and Laura
Marano. The
annual event takes place Saturday, August 27th at the USTA
Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows,
NY, from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m and
will kick-off the 2016 US Open, which runs from August 29th
- September 11th.
From 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., families can
enjoy an exciting array of free tennis activities geared
toward kids, plus live music and attractions throughout the
grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Inside Arthur Ashe Stadium from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., the live
tennis and music show will feature fun exhibition matches
and skills competitions with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and
14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, as well as musical
performances by Flo Rida, Zara Larsson, Troye Sivan, Jordan
Fisher, Laura Marano and Forever In Your Mind. Additional
participants will be announced in the coming weeks.
Stadium show tickets are on sale now through
Ticketmaster (1-866-OPEN-TIX), www.usopen.org and
at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center box
office. American Express is the official card of Arthur Ashe
Kids? Day. General admission promenade tickets cost $10 and
loge tickets are $25. Arthur Ashe Kids' Day will be
broadcast nationally by ABC on Sunday, August 28, from 2:00
p.m.
- 3:00 p.m. (ET).
?Arthur Ashe Kids? Day is a special day for
families to enjoy the best of tennis and musical
entertainment," said Gordon Smith, USTA Executive Director
and Chief Operating Officer. ?This annual tradition will be
further enhanced as all grounds activities take place
throughout the newly transformed grounds, and the stadium
show takes place under the our new state-of-the-art
retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time.?
For the past 20 years, Arthur Ashe Kids? Day has
been a launching pad for many of music?s biggest acts
including has been a launching ground and showcase for
artists such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes,
Rihanna, Jonas Brothers, Fifth Harmony, Ne-Yo, Demi Lovato,
Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Hanson and more.
This year's lineup will feature:
Flo Rida -
Over the last several years, Flo Rida become a chart fixture
thanks to a string of blockbuster singles that have topped
the charts worldwide, including: 'Low (feat. T-Pain),'
'Right Round,' 'Sugar,' 'Good Feeling,' 'Wild Ones (feat.
Sia),'
'Whistle,' and 'My House.' He has a remarkable eleven RIAA
platinum certified singles and seven top 5 hits on the
all-encompassing Billboard 'Hot
100' chart. His most recent EP My
House includes
the singles 'G.D.F.R.' feat. Sage the Gemeni, 'I Don't Like
It, I Love It' feat. Robin Thicke, and ?My House? which
ascended to the #1 spot on CHR/Top 40 radio outlets
nationwide, while also selling more than 100 million singles
worldwide. His summer smash 'Hello Friday' feat. Jason
Derulo will be featured on his upcoming. A four-time
Grammy-nominated artist and winner of People?s Choice and
Teen Choice Awards, Flo Rida has broken down barriers by
uniting millions of fans of pop, hip-hop, and club music
around the world and establishing himself as an
international, genre-busting superstar in the process.
Zara Larsson - Teenage
Swedish sensation Zara Larsson?s international smash
'Never Forget You' has crisscrossed the globe, leaving a
swath of scorched earth in its wake. The 7x-platinum track
reigns on dancefloors and hits charts, with video views and
Spotify streams each totaling well into 9 digits. Zara
recently paired with French DJ and über-producer David
Guetta on the uplifting anthem 'This One's For You,?
selected as the official song of the 2016 UEFA European
Championship. Larsson got her start by winning Sweden's
Got Talent and
went on to conquer all of Europe, courtesy of her
10x-platinum #1 hit ?Uncover.? She?s now taken America by
storm, having performed on The
Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, The Tonight Show with
Jimmy Fallon, and The
Late Late Show with James Corden. She?s
been featured in major publications including People, Time,
GQ, Elle, and US Weekly and is currently readying a
full-length album on Epic Records. The world is Zara
Larsson's oyster as her angelic face and heavenly vocals
take center stage.
Troye
Sivan -
Troye Sivan, is a true global pop phenomenon, his debut
album Blue
Neighborhood sold
over one million albums worldwide, topped over 50 iTunes
charts around the world, debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200
and has earned more than 700,000 equivalent albums globally
in five months. Troye has 20 million combined online
followers and nearly one billion streams to date. Troye's
new single, 'WILD' featuring Alessia Cara debuted at #1 in 7
countries and sold over 1 million tracks worldwide. The
New York Times hailed
him as a ?prototype for tomorrow's global pop star? and TIME named
the celebrated YouTuber as one of the most influential teens
of 2014. The young Australian artist topped Billboard's Dance
Club Songs chart with his previous single, 'YOUTH.' The
song, which entered the Top 25 of Billboard?s Hot
100, is certified Platinum. Troye will kick off the second
North American leg of his worldwide ?Suburbia Tour? on
October 16 at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. A portion of
ticket sales will go to The Ally Coalition, which supports
LGBTQ causes and the fight against discrimination through
education, awareness and advocacy.
Jordan Fisher -
Already called out as ?one to watch by Entertainment
Weekly and People
Magazine, multi-talented artist Jordan Fisher recently
released
'All About Us' from his upcoming debut album for Hollywood
Records. Produced by Oak Felder (Alessia Cara, Ariana
Grande, Rihanna), the song seamlessly melds Jordan's
influences, including pop, soul, R&B and dance. Notes
Jordan, ??All About Us? is a song that embodies who I am.
Other collaborators on the upcoming album include Danja
(Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott), Dreamlab (Nicki Minaj,
Miley Cyrus) and Rob Persaud (Jay Sean, Lady Gaga.) For the
video, Jordan enlisted award-winning
director/cinematographer TK McKamy and acclaimed
dancer/choreographer WilldaBeast Adams (T-Pain, DJ Tiesto, So
You Think You Can Dance) to create a show stopping
visual for the song. Many know Jordan from his breakout role
as 'Doody' in Fox's 'Grease: Live, which attracted more
than 12.2 million viewers and ranked as the #1 most viral
live music event to date. His performance of 'Those Magic
Changes,' was called out by the likes of People
Magazine,Buzzfeed and
MTV.
Laura Marano - Widely
known for starring as 'Ally' in the Disney Channel's
international hit television series Austin & Ally, Laura
Marano has won Best Actress on TV at the Kids Choice Awards
and nominations for Choice Summer TV Star Female at the Teen
Choice Awards. The series has won Kids Choice Awards in
Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Columbia. Marano signed with
Big Machine Records and recently released her new single 'Boombox,'
with the video garnering over 32 million views and an album
to follow later this year. This January, Marano launched her
own weekly radio show, "For The Record With Laura Marano" on
Radio Disney. She's currently developing her own apparel and
accessories brand after curating a collection of prom
dresses for Sherri Hill, which is currently in stores now.
Forever In Your Mind -
Forever In Your Mind is an infectious pop band comprised of
Emery Kelly, Ricky Garcia and Liam Attridge. The trio formed
after Ricky and Emery appeared on The X-Factor and were put
together by Simon Cowell. Emery's cousin, Liam, was a
natural fit and rounded out the group. Forever In Your Mind,
or FIYM, as they are known to their fans, released their new
single, 'Hurricane,' April 29, followed by their debut EP
July 1. They've already toured nationally and in Canada as
part of the Digitour, alongside Fifth Harmony, Jesse
McCartney, Demi Lovato and Bea Miller. The band performs the
theme song to Disney Channel's
'Best Friends Whenever,' (which stars Ricky) and their DC
Classics Medley, released last month, has over 1.5 million
views on YouTube. Signed to Hollywood Records, the trio has
a development deal with Disney Channel and they were
featured in Variety
Magazine's 2015 Youth Impact Report in the ?up next
category. They recently made their network television debut,
performing in Times Square the 4th of
July on 'Good Morning America.' With their music and
television careers taking off in 2016, they certainly are up
next for greatness!
Joey Bragg -
Joey Bragg stars as Joey Rooney, the eldest brother who
subscribes to his own brand of cool, in Disney Channel's "Liv
and Maddie." Born and raised in Union City, California,
Bragg began his career in the entertainment business
performing stand-up comedy at age 13 in the Bay area,
eventually performing in Los Angeles, Nevada and elsewhere.
In addition to "Liv and Maddie," he made a guest appearance
on Disney Channel's "Jessie" and starred in last year?s
Disney XD Original Movie "Mark & Russell's Wild Ride."
The AAKD Grounds Festival offers a wide range
of interactive activities and the opportunity for children
of all ages to test their skills, hit with top tennis pros,
win prizes and enjoy music:
· Hess
Festival Stage -
the Grounds Festival's free concert featuring
up-and-coming musical talent including 13-year-old phenom Jacob
Sartorius, Beyoncé protégé Sophie
Beem, Island Records recording artists Citizen
Four, country music breakout Tegan
Marie, West Coast pop band Los
5 and more to
be announced. Hosted by Radio
Disney!
· YouthTennis.com
- Tennis
is sized right for kids! With shorter courts, smaller
racquets and lower-bouncing balls, the focus is on the fun
so kids enjoy the game right from the start.
· USTA
Play Day -
Experience a 'Play Day' a welcoming way for kids to
experience the social and competitive aspects of tennis.
Play points and rally against other players and pros.
· Family
Fun Court -
Kids aren't the only ones who can have fun playing tennis.
Join your child on court and see how you can play tennis
anywhere.
· Hess
Toy Truck Obstacle Course - Test
agility, balance, running and tennis skills on the engaging
and challenging obstacle course.
· Hess
Target Time - Intermediate
and advanced level-kids can test their skills hitting
targets.
· Emirates
Airline Beat the Pro - Challenge
the best playing points against some of the top touring and
teaching pros in the world.
· PTR
10 and Under Tennis - Have
some fun with PTR professionals and work on improving your
beginning serve, scoring and rally skills.
· USPTA
10 and Under Tennis - USPTA-certified
teaching professionals host this court consisting of 30
colorful hitting stations using a variety of teaching aids.
· Nike
Tennis - Tennis
and skill activities on two courts featuring Nike sponsored
athletes.
· Champions
of the Court - Exciting
doubles play for all levels. Which team will win Champions
of the Court.
· Tennis
and Education Zone - Innovative
and fun tennis-based, educational activities to develop the
skills of beginning players of all ages.
· Get
Fit and Play - Challenging
tennis courses for varying skill levels focusing on agility,
balance, coordination, speed and strength.
· IBM
Speedzone - Just
like the pros, utilize IBM's speed serve technology to test
the power behind your shot.
· USTA
Tennis Skills Challenge - inspiring
youth to pick up a racquet and elevate their game with a
series of dynamic skill challenges. Participants will try to
master a variety of trick shots to inspire creativity and
further develop the basic tennis fundamentals.
· The
US Open American Express Fan Experience - Step
inside the US Open American Express Fan Experience for even
more tennis fun! The Fan Experience is located in the Chase
Center near the East Gate.
· Special
appearances from Disney
Princess characters
Rapunzel, Tiana and Flynn Rider from Tangled.
For every kid who dreams big, there's a Disney princess to
show them it's possible.
· Watch
the Pros Practice - See
tennis's biggest stars up close as they prepare for the US
Open. Public practices are featured on Louis Armstrong
Stadium, Grandstand, Court 17 and Practice Courts 1-6.
· Also -
Autographs, Face Painting, Juggling Workshop, Hair Beading
and Braiding, Storytelling, Balloon Artists, Roving
Entertainers and more!
Arthur Ashe Kids' Day presented by Hess is
the largest single-day, grassroots tennis and entertainment
event in the world
and has been supported by Hess since 2003. With chart-topping
performers, celebrities and professional tennis players, the
day helps to promote youth tennis and encourages children of
all ages to develop healthy habits through fun activities.
Arthur Ashe Kids' Day also celebrates the life and values of
tennis legend and humanitarian Arthur Ashe.
Proceeds from Arthur Ashe Kids? Day benefit
the USTA Foundation which helps fund the National Junior
Tennis & Learning Network (NJTL),
a nationwide group of more than 500 nonprofit
youth-development organizations that provide free or
low-cost tennis, education and life-skills programming to
more than 225,000 children each year, founded 47 years ago
by Arthur Ashe, along with Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan
Snyder.
For more information on Youth Tennis and
Arthur Ashe Kids? Day, log on to www.YouthTennis.com and/or www.AAKD.com. To
connect via social media, please ?like? the officialFacebook
page facebook.com/ArthurAsheKidsDay
and/or
follow @AAKidsDay on
Twitter and Instagram. In
the event of inclement weather, ticket holders can log on to
any of the sites listed above for the most up to date
information.
The 2016 US Open will be held Monday, August
29 through Sunday, September 11. Tickets for the 2015 US
Open can be purchased four ways: 1) at USOpen.org; 2) by
calling Ticketmaster at 1-866-OPEN-TIX; 3) at all
Ticketmaster outlets; or 4) at the USTA Billie Jean King
National Tennis Center box office. American Express is the
Official Card of the US Open.
Hess Corporation(NYSE:
HES) is a leading global independent energy company engaged
in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural
gas. More information on Hess Corporation is available at www.hess.com and
on the Hess Toy Truck at hesstoytruck.com.
The USTA is
the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the
U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth
of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the
highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit
organization with more than 715,000 members, it invests 100%
of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates
the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in
the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series,
linking seven summer tournaments to the US Open. In
addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events
throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup,
Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA?s
philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants
and scholarships and helps under-resourced youth and
individuals with disabilities, and supports wounded, ill
and injured service members, veterans and their families.
For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, ?like?
the official Facebook page, facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta
on Twitter.
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