But the crowds have swelled again at what promoters like to call the crossroads of the world.
Punk and hip-hop have body-checked it from both sides, resulting in a successful hybrid that promoters call "heavy music."
More than 20 American sites are on the tour, for which the boat trip yesterday was what the promoters called the "maiden voyage."
The promoter called and said, 'What should we do?'
The promoter called it a tennis classic.
Even farther from active duty are the stars of the undercards (that's what the promoter calls the two other one-on-one matches).
One American promoter called me and offered me air fare and a hotel room and $300 to jump in his meet.
Still, Hunt's commitment to what promoters like to call "the spiritual home of American tennis" did not waver.
I've always let the promoter call his own shot.
Some promoters call it a paradise, but it isn't.