Mount Pleasant Magazine Jan/Feb 2015

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home on Daniel Island, the Family
Circle Tennis Center.
According to Bob Moran, general
manager of the Family Circle Cup,
the tournament, held in April, has
been making history in the world of
tennis since its inception in 1973.
“We’re the largest women’s event,
by far, in the world,” said Moran.
“When you look at other events that
are like us, their draws are 32 play-
ers. Our draw is 64, which means we
have more players, more activities and
more matches. We’re giving young
players an opportunity to qualify.”
“We’re the longest-running ten-
nis event in the country,” Moran
added, “and it’s important to us for
our legacy to continue. Therefore,
one of our major focuses is how
people are consuming our media.
By 2017, our goal is have all 55
singles matches played here broad-
cast for public consumption. In fact,
we plan to broadcast every singles
match on the WTA that year, which
is more than 2,000 matches. We’re
going to make it possible for fans to
follow their favorites on their televi-
sion, cell phones and computers.”
CharlestonWine +
Food Festival
It hardly seems possible that the
Charleston Wine + Food Festival will
celebrate its 10th year in early March.
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Melanie Oudin was among the competitors at the 2014 Family Circle Cup.
Like SEWE, the event has helped blur
the lines between the tourist season
and the off-season.
The Festival celebrates the re-
nowned food culture of the Charles-
ton area during five event-packed
days. It infuses homegrown flavors
with award-winning chefs, winemak-
ers, authors, storytellers and food
enthusiasts.
“I think people yearn for inti-
mate, interesting experiences when
they go to events like the Wine +
Food Festival,” said Gillian Zettler,
the event’s executive director. “Be-
cause there are food and wine events
cropping up all over the country, the
pressure is on to make sure ours is
unique, that this little snapshot visi-
tors get of our home is the best bite
we can give them.”
This year, the full Festival experi-
ence includes a day in the re-imaged
Culinary Village, grand parties
such as the Opening Night Gala or
Toasted: The Festival Finale, and in-
timate events like signature dinners,
workshops and excursions.
According to Zettler, the first
Festival in 2006 was contained in
Marion Square in downtown Charles-
ton, but, as the Festival grew, it spilled
over into a number of venues across
the Charleston peninsula. This year,
several major events will take place
East of the Cooper.
“We are holding our first event
ever on Sullivan’s Island,” stated
Zettler. “Poe’s Tavern is hosting a
twilight burger bonanza featuring
Photo courtesy of the Family Circle Cup.
BY THE NUMBERS
• Inaugural year: 2006
• Number of years in existence: 9
• First year attendance: 6,000
• Attendance in 2014: 23,000
• Local economic impact in 2014: $10 million
• Date(s) of 2015 event: March 4-8
• Length of event: Five days
• Website: