Breakers ready for new digs

The Newport Beach Breakers have gotten Maria Sharapova back for a date on July 25 — her admirers everywhere could only be so lucky.

But the place of courtship has changed.

The Breakers, of World TeamTennis, have new digs.

Fans can’t quite see it yet, but the Breakers are anticipating their new stadium. The temporary facility is set to begin construction on June 21 or 22 in the Newport Beach Country Club parking lot, Breakers Executive Director Jeff Purser said.

The official name of the stadium, which is slated to seat approximately 2,200 people, will be Breakers Stadium at Newport Beach Country Club.

The cost of the construction is about $200,000, Purser said, which is a significant chunk of the nearly $1 million overall budget of the team.

“When it’s all finished it’ll be pretty impressive,” Purser said. “It’ll look like it took a lot more time [to construct] than it did. It’ll make an impression when you see it. There’s nothing like this in Newport Beach.”

Purser, who is also the Toshiba Golf Classic tournament director, took over the Breakers’ executive director spot when Hoag Hospital became the team’s primary benefactor in February.

He said the stadium, which will feature 13 corporate skyboxes as well as Breakers Pavilion Club seating on the baselines, will be ready for the Breakers’ home opener on July 6 against the Sacramento Capitals.

It’s not exactly a drastic relocation for the Breakers, which have played just around the block at nearby Palisades Tennis Club in years past.

But playing in a new stadium in the NBCC parking lot along Pacific Coast Highway and offering up ocean views may prove to be a big selling point.

Newport Beach Country Club general manager Perry Dickey said the Breakers’ venue shouldn’t conflict with the country club members, given the large size of the parking lot and the fact that matches will be held in the evening.

“It’s another opportunity to work with the community,” Dickey said. “It’s been adopted by Hoag Hospital and it’s been good for everyone. NBCC is excited to be involved with the Breakers. The membership has expressed some interest in it and we’re excited to see how this plays out.”

How it should play out, Purser said, is great Breakers tennis in a great setting for a team that won the World TeamTennis championship in 2004 and was runner-up last season.

“We’re trying to create a great atmosphere, as well as great tennis,” Purser said. “To have a stadium with views of the ocean, it’s an intimate setting. There isn’t a person in the stadium who will be more than 45 or 50 feet from the court.”

Of the 13 corporate skyboxes, Purser said the Breakers have sold at least eight. As for the Pavilion Club seating, which features 10 tables that seat 10 people each, those are all sold out.

The Pavilion Club seats will also feature padded chairs with side tables to place food and beverages on, and in-seat waiter service throughout the match.

“They’re really right on top of the court,” Purser said.

Six of the Pavilion Club tables will be on the east end, with four on the west end of the stadium alongside a pair of Land Rovers, which is a sponsor.

Individual general admission prices range from $15 to $45, depending on the home match.

The Hoag group plans to run the Breakers like they do the Toshiba Classic, which is also held at the Newport Beach Country Club, Purser said. All profits raised benefit Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.

No other World TeamTennis franchise is run by a charitable organization.

“We’re running a business for profit, but the profits go 100% to charity,” he said. “Tennis traditionally is not all about charity like golf is. This is kind of a switch in the paradigm.

“Although it’s for charity, our revenue models are not too dissimilar to what a team like the Anaheim Ducks would be. Ticket sales are a big component.”

Purser hopes to sell out all of the stadium’s luxury skyboxes in subsequent years.

“We’ll be very successful in year one, but we want to expand it,” he said.

Once the season ends, he estimated the stadium would take about a week to take down.

Like at the Toshiba, many of the Breakers tennis fans will need to be shuttled in. Purser said fans will be able to park at Pacific Life on Newport Center Drive, which has offered up its parking lot on game nights.

may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.