The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Tips on celebrity spotting and parking at the Finals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 08, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tips on celebrity spotting and parking at the Finals

Susan Muthalaly

CHENNAI: As the ticket vendors packed up after putting out sold out' signs at The Chennai Open finals at the SDAT tennis stadium, Nungambakkam, some important people were left making determined phone calls to their contacts for passes to the big evening at Centre Court.

For those of you who managed an entry to the matches today, here's a compilation of tips — from celebrity spotting to more mundane issues such as parking.

Centre Court

This has four blocks. The orange chairs in the north block are for the VVIPs, comprising TNTA officials, sponsors and SDAT people.

The south block is for IMG people, the event organisers, and their guests.

The three bays in the south block are a good place to look for celebrities because this is where the players' guests sit.

One bay is for Ramanathan Krishnan and family.

Parking fee

The VVIPs get a yellow car pass that gives them access to parking at the Girls High School.

The VIP pass holders should head to the Corporation Ground where a parking fee of Rs.5 is charged for a day.

General parking is at the Corporation Boys School, which also has a parking fee.

Snack counter

When in need of sustenance, head for the snack counters along the corridors of each wing. There is also a Raj Bhavan outlet below the TNTA office in the stadium. However, feel free to bring your own food and water to save yourself the trouble of getting up from your seat.

And finally, after the winner is declared, head to The Park's Leather Bar to rub shoulders with the players as they unwind.

Spotted recently were Leander Paes, looking spiffy in his gladrags, Rohan Bopanna, IMG's Ravi Krishnan and fashion critic wife Bandana.

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