Starting in 2017, a friend of the game has officially started the U.S. Open Squash Championships with the first ball hit on court. The 2025 U.S. Open were launched when Chris Leonard took the ceremonial first swing.
Leonard has managed the AV technologies at the Open every year since the event arrived on the campus of Drexel University in October 2011. Leonard is the Vice President of Operations at IMS Technology Services and based in Philadelphia. From his aerie on the third floor of the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Leonard directs customized solutions to when players are not on court, harnessing the energy of squash’s fast-paced live action and conveying the branding and communication strategies of US Squash.
“I love curating the spectator experience,” said Leonard, who first learned how to run audio event production with his father. “I try to give fans a rich, engaging atmosphere, using lighting, sounds and video to make the Open so exciting that the tech disappears and the experience shines.”
In addition, Leonard helped lead IMS’ effort to install all audio/visual equipment when the Specter Center was under construction. Because of their exceptional work, IMS was honored in 2021 with the Best Large Venue Project by Commercial Integrator.