Mason commits $15M to Western & Southern Open, Lindner Family Tennis Center expansion

–

Mason City Council approved an ordinance June 5 that adds $15 million to Ohio’s financial package aimed at keeping the Western & Southern Open in Greater Cincinnati after the tournament was purchased by an out-of-state owner.

The tournament will become a 14-day event, with a 96-player draw for both men and women in 2025.

Currently, the Western & Southern Open is one of the world’s nine largest professional tennis tournaments featuring the top men and women players at one venue at the same time.

Beemok Capital estimates $375 million is needed to complete “critical improvements,” facilitate year-round activation and execute on a comprehensive master plan at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, the tournament’s long-time home. Those upgrades would be necessary to not only handle an expanded tournament, but to make the tennis center the year-round sports tourism destination Beemok believes it could become.

Changes to the facilities would include adding more courts, expanding the player spaces, creating a fan plaza and upgrading VIP spaces on the campus.

A financial partnership involving the state of Ohio, Warren County and the city of Mason has already secured one-third of the funding necessary to upgrade the tournament’s campus. The state of Ohio set aside more than $20 million in the state budget to fund upgrades. Warren County has chipped in $10.5 million, and Mason has now funneled an additional $15 million into the partnership.

Last year’s tournament drew more than 178,000 fans over its nine days.

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/06/05/mason-commits-millions-western-southern-open.html

#cincinnati #nky #sports #funding #tourism #event #tennis #mason #ohio #westernsouthern #beemokcapital #tournament #tennispros