As the Western & Southern Tennis Open awaits word on state funding for a planned expansion, the new owners of the tournament could be closer to moving the event from Mason to Charlotte, North Carolina.
South Carolina billionaire Ben Navarro's Beemok Capital group purchased the tournament last August from the United States Tennis Association.
"We are committed to providing the best resources to the world’s best players and look forward to elevating the Western and Southern Open experience for players and fans," Navarro said at the time in the purchase release.
Could elevating the Western & Southern Open mean moving?
A $400 million tennis complex in Charlotte would be part of a plan to relocate the tournament, the Charlotte Business Journal reported Wednesday. According to the report, the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg Country are considering a request for $132 million to build the structure, located in the city's River District.
It would involve four stadiums and 40 total courts, including four stadiums, five additional match courts and a mix of hard, clay and indoor tennis courts plus pickleball. The facility would have an economic impact of $275 million with 350,000 global ticket sales according to a report from the Charlotte Observer.
A spokesperson from Beemok Capital said in a statement Wednesday the company was "evaluating a number of options as part of a deliberate process relative to its future location" before investing in an expansion of the tournament.
"Our process in other cities follows the same course we have taken in Greater Cincinnati, to both present the benefits of the tournament to the local community as well as evaluate the opportunities and constraints the region presents," the spokesperson said. "We’ve had productive conversations with state and local representatives in Mason and the surrounding area and have made considerable efforts to develop a potential master plan to expand the event in its current location. We have great respect for the city of Mason and are excited to host the tournament here in August and for years to come."
Beemok expects to make a decision on the long-term home of the tournament later this summer. The city of Mason said in a statement Wednesday it is working proactively with state and local officials to keep the tournament in Ohio.
"We recognize this is a competitive process with multiple locations," city official said. "Mason is no stranger to this and has a well-established history for competing and winning some of the highest profile, large-scale and global economic development projects."
State budget bill includes $22.5 million for Mason expansion
Western & Southern's title sponsorship of the event runs through 2024 with the lease of the Lindner Family Tennis Center running through 2029.
The Ohio House last month included an $84.5 million earmark for the Lindner center – a one-time $22.5 million increase over its usual funding amount. The funding boost would aid a $150 million expansion of the facility to host larger tournaments, pickleball matches and year-round events including concerts.
"As far as I'm concerned, we need to do everything at a city level, county level and state level to maintain that tournament in Ohio," said Sen. Steve Wilson, a Maineville Republican.
The Ohio Senate is now revising the bill, which must be passed before July 1.
Senate President Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican, was noncommittal Wednesday about whether the money would remain in the two-year budget bill.
"Sure, we want to make sure our Ohio employers stay in Ohio," said Senate President Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican, adding that he wasn't familiar with the exact amount set aside in the budget for Western & Southern. "That sounds like a lot of money. I guess I'd have to take a look at it."
"I'd like to see what the appropriation is about. Nobody from Western & Southern or Mason has said anything to me about it."
Who is Beemok?
Beemok Sports and Entertainment recently renovated Credit One Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina as a world-class tennis and concert venue and sponsors North America's largest women's only tournament, the Credit One Charleston Open. It also operates a pair of tennis complexes in the Charleston area that are host sites for the USTA Pro Circuit events, the USTA Girls 18U Clay Court Championships and a high-performance tennis academy.
What is the W&S Open?
The W&S Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1,000 men’s global tournaments, considered just one step below the Grand Slam events. The weeklong W&S Open in Mason typically draws around 200,000 fans from across the globe from as many as 30 countries. In 2020, when the tournament was temporarily moved to New York in a "bubble event" due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's estimated $68 million was lost.
The tournament brings in over $80 million to the local area every year, according to Rep. Adam Mathews, a Lebanon Republican who proposed the extra funding.
Origins of the Western & Southern Open
According to the Western & Southern Open site, the tournament originated in 1899 at Xavier University and is the oldest professional tournament played in its city of origin. Over 100 International Tennis Hall of Famers have participated in the event.
USA TODAY Network Ohio bureau reporter Jessie Balmert, Enquirer reporter Erin Glynn and Enquirer media partner Fox19 contributed reporting.
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