[ColoradoTree]

The Bank of the West Classic tennis tournament, which unfortunately is leaving Stanford, has been reincarnated as the "Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic" and will be played at San Jose State's brand new tennis facility. Definitely not as good as being at Stanford, and not clear if Stanford players will be given wild cards in, but at least it's still within the area.

I always figured Stanford students got wild cards as a favor to the host institution, and as a way to build a little excitement in the community to drive attendance (though with school out of session during the July tournament, I'm not sure how strong that factor was).  There was also a level of quality of Stanford players that the tournament could trust.  You give them a qualifying wild card, and they'll acquit themselves well. 

I'm not sure if giving a Stanford player a wild card to a San Jose tournament would drive attendance, and I am sure the tournament isn't feeling terribly charitable towards Stanford at the moment.  Though San Jose State players, other than Gauvain, don't have that same track record of quality, so you might not give them wild cards, either.  If I'm the tournament, I ignore Stanford affiliation and cast a wider net, look to the greater Bay Area and California in general for a certain caliber of player who could be deserving of a QWC.  From that perspective, incoming freshman Nikula Madurawe (Sunnyvale) could make sense, and Michaela Gordon (Saratoga) would make even more.  As for a main draw wild card, Cici Bellis is an easy choice if her ranking wouldn't justify a spot in the main draw.  But giving former Cardinal greats like Nicole Gibbs a wild card may be a thing of the past, too. 

In any event, it's disappointing to see the event leave Stanford.  Like you, oldalum, I'm glad it'll still be in the area, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Stanford players frozen out. 

[ColoradoTree]

The Bank of the West Classic tennis tournament, which unfortunately is leaving Stanford, has been reincarnated as the "Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic" and will be played at San Jose State's brand new tennis facility. Definitely not as good as being at Stanford, and not clear if Stanford players will be given wild cards in, but at least it's still within the area.

I always figured Stanford students got wild cards as a favor to the host institution, and as a way to build a little excitement in the community to drive attendance (though with school out of session during the July tournament, I'm not sure how strong that factor was).  There was also a level of quality of Stanford players that the tournament could trust.  You give them a qualifying wild card, and they'll acquit themselves well. 

I'm not sure if giving a Stanford player a wild card to a San Jose tournament would drive attendance, and I am sure the tournament isn't feeling terribly charitable towards Stanford at the moment.  Though San Jose State players, other than Gauvain, don't have that same track record of quality, so you might not give them wild cards, either.  If I'm the tournament, I ignore Stanford affiliation and cast a wider net, look to the greater Bay Area and California in general for a certain caliber of player who could be deserving of a QWC.  From that perspective, incoming freshman Nikula Madurawe (Sunnyvale) could make sense, and Michaela Gordon (Saratoga) would make even more.  As for a main draw wild card, Cici Bellis is an easy choice if her ranking wouldn't justify a spot in the main draw.  But giving former Cardinal greats like Nicole Gibbs a wild card may be a thing of the past, too. 

In any event, it's disappointing to see the event leave Stanford.  Like you, oldalum, I'm glad it'll still be in the area, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Stanford players frozen out.