ICYMI: How the US Open Turns Fan Week Into Future Fandom

Fandom Unpacked

Fandom Unpacked
ICYMI: How the US Open Turns Fan Week Into Future Fandom
Aug 26, 2026
Situation

As the US Open returns to New York, we revisit our conversation with Nicole Kankam, Managing Director of Pro Tennis Marketing & Entertainment at the USTA. Nicole shares how the US Open's Fan Week has become a more accessible and diverse entry point to tennis, and how that experience is helping to build the next generation of players, attendees, and fans.

Hear the full conversation with Nicole in Season 1, Episode 14 of Fandom Unpacked:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449648/episodes/17559771-serving-the-future-how-the-us-open-became-a-culture-first-sports-brand

Episode Artwork ICYMI: How the US Open Turns Fan Week Into Future Fandom 1:47 Episode Artwork ICYMI: The Fans Who Bring D23 to Life 1:54 Episode Artwork Community Is the Killer App: Human Connection & Growth at TLCC 2026 33:33 Episode Artwork Mission Is The Marketing from TLCC 2026 20:48 Episode Artwork ICYMI: What Tessitura's Learning & Community Conference Carries Forward 2:04 Episode Artwork ICYMI: Why the Best Trips Aren’t About the Destination 1:38 Episode Artwork The Essential Power in Prescribing Joy and Making Memories 29:25 Episode Artwork ICYMI: How a Video Game Brought FIFA to America 1:38 Episode Artwork From Paddington to Park Place, Turning Familiar IP into a Playable Night Out 23:57 Episode Artwork ICYMI: The Whole City Is Showing Up for The NBA Finals 2:00 Episode Artwork The Harlem Globetrotters Bring Joy To The Court 24:46 Episode Artwork ICYMI: The Savannah Bananas and the Surprisingly Serious Business of Fun 2:08 Episode Artwork The Live Experience Brand Behind Channing Tatum’s Biggest Movie 27:56 Episode Artwork ICYMI: Broadway's Biggest Concert is Coming Up 1:47 Episode Artwork Speaking My Language: A Conversation with Gordon Cox 32:29 Episode Artwork ICYMI: Drive To Survive Turned Drivers Into Stars And Changed Fandom 2:33 Episode Artwork Merch That Sells The Memory Long After Curtain Call 31:03 Episode Artwork ICYMI: What March Madness Carries Into the Pros 1:50 Episode Artwork How New York City Tourism + Conventions Sells The Iconic And The Unexpected 31:43 Episode Artwork Escaping Into Audacious New Worlds with Spiegelworld 29:04 Episode Artwork How Carnegie Hall Balances Legacy, Innovation, and Fans 30:53 Episode Artwork From Vegas Stages To VIP Magic: How Caesars Builds Unforgettable Nights 35:35 Episode Artwork The Results Are In: Recapping the 2026 Live Entertainment Leadership Survey 29:37 Episode Artwork The Year in Fandom: How Sports, Culture & Entertainment Leaders Build Fans 32:05 Episode Artwork Fans First, Entertain Always: How The Savannah Bananas Turn Baseball Into Joy 35:13