‘Everybody was counting us out’: Western & Southern Open to stay in Cincinnati

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The future location of the event, one of the world’s nine largest pro tennis tournaments, had come into question after more than a century in Greater Cincinnati.

New owner Ben Navarro and his Beemok Capital family office entity, which acquired the tournament last year, considered moving it to Charlotte, N.C., where a proposed $400 million tennis facility would have been built.

Beemok committed to keeping the tournament at the Lindner Family Tennis Center for at least 25 years.

Navarro said in a news release: “The passion and commitment of this community to keep the tournament here was an undeniable factor in our decision to stay. The city of Mason, Warren County, the state of Ohio and multiple corporate entities demonstrated their unwavering support for the tennis tournament. This tournament and its history are special. We’re excited to add to its legacy and create a world-class tennis experience for players and fans.”

Beemok will invest more than $200 million in the Lindner Family Tennis Center to expand it in time for the ATP and WTA events to expand their fields to 96 players from 56 now.

The event will grow to 12 days at that point from nine days now.

“The key is year-round activation,” Davis said. “They’re investing in the facility for it to be open to the public much of the year.”

The improvements will likely include pickleball courts, tennis courts for community use and restaurants, said Matt Davis, co-founder and president of downtown-based government relations and consulting firm DSD Advisors who represented Beemok Capital in this process.

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/10/10/western-southern-open-location-decision-made.html?cx_testId=40&cx_testVariant=cx_6&cx_artPos=9#cxrecs_s

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