USTA tax forms show ex-CEO Kantarian was paid $9.15M in 2008, his last year running US Open

USTA tax forms show ex-CEO paid $9.15M in 2008

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — U.S. Tennis Association tax forms show that former CEO of professional tennis Arlen Kantarian received more than $9 million in total compensation in 2008, his last year running the U.S. Open.

According to documents obtained Monday by The Associated Press, Kantarian was paid about $1.6 million in base compensation, about $2.3 million in bonus and incentive compensation and nearly $5.2 million in other reportable compensation that year.

That last category includes cumulative incentive payments earned during his last three-year contract with the USTA, which hired him in 2000. The total compensation for 2008 is listed as $9.15 million.

“Arlen’s departure triggered a one-time contractual obligation,” USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier said in a telephone interview.

Kantarian resigned as the USTA’s CEO of professional tennis in October 2008, effective at the end of that year. He now works as an adviser to Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.

Kantarian declined comment Monday.

The 2008 tax year was the first for which the USTA was required to list the compensation for more than just one employee, so Kantarian’s pay in previous years is not available.

“The USTA made a conscious decision to invest in its professional staff, and these investments have paid off,” Widmaier said. “Revenue at the USTA is up $93 million between 2000 and 2008, and we’ve hit other record benchmarks, including 30 million tennis players, the highest USTA membership in our history, and three consecutive record U.S. Opens in attendance and revenue.”

Kantarian, a former NFL and Radio City executive, brought instant replay to Grand Slam tennis, moved the U.S. Open women’s final into prime time, and launched the U.S. Open Series of summer hard-court tournaments in North America.