December 14, 20231 yr 21 minutes ago, 646empire said: Yupp it’s definitely coming back, have noticed it more and more in new venues and renovations recently. I do like this blue combo tho. 11 minutes ago, savadams13 said: It's ugly but supposed to give the illusion more people are in the stands especially when televised. It's not very successful though, was glad to see FCC let the fans vote for a design that wasn't the "sprinkles" color effect... Yep, I remember from back in the day, that was the illusion it was supposed to provide, but that was before the days of HDTV where you could not make out the people in the crowd very well on TV. Now, it is much harder to have that effect since you get a much crisper definition on TV. I hated it back then, but of course I found the 70s style and colors ugly. Even the old Riverfront Stadium with its different colored levels was a bit ugly too. However, it made it easy to find your seats because you could just say what color you were in to figure out your level. At least the current color scheme is more pleasant on the eyes than the 1970s colors though. However, I hope I still say that 10-15 years from now.
December 14, 20231 yr 44 minutes ago, savadams13 said: It's ugly but supposed to give the illusion more people are in the stands especially when televised. It's not very successful though, was glad to see FCC let the fans vote for a design that wasn't the "sprinkles" color effect... That's why I'm bummed we (UC) dropped the standard C-paw seatbacks from some of the price levels as a perk and it's now an upgrade. When people didn't buy them or show up, it still looked occupied!
December 14, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, savadams13 said: It's ugly but supposed to give the illusion more people are in the stands especially when televised. It's not very successful though, was glad to see FCC let the fans vote for a design that wasn't the "sprinkles" color effect... I’ve heard this reason before but Im not sure that’s the reason for this particular design. This center court is very popular and full during the tournament so they didn’t need it in this case.
December 14, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, Brutus_buckeye said: Yep, I remember from back in the day, that was the illusion it was supposed to provide, but that was before the days of HDTV where you could not make out the people in the crowd very well on TV. Now, it is much harder to have that effect since you get a much crisper definition on TV. Yupp which is why I doubt it’s the reason they chose this design.
December 14, 20231 yr 25 minutes ago, DEPACincy said: I think it looks cool. 🤷♂️ Same and it’s not just mix match seats all around there is a flow to the design and it’s still portions that are solid in areas. I’m more excited about the big projects still to come at the tennis center.
January 8, 20241 yr The Western & Southern Open has a new name The annual ATP/WTA tennis tournament in Mason will have a new name this year and it's one you may have heard before. The Western & Southern Open is returning to its original name, the Cincinnati Open. "Returning to Cincinnati Open as the tournament's name is an opportunity for us to celebrate its rich history at a time when we are also focused on a bold future and taking every possible step to grow and enhance the event," says Bob Moran, president of Beemok Sports & Entertainment, in a release. Beemok Capital purchased the tournament in 2022 and there were ongoing discussions about the possibility of relocating it to Charlotte, N.C. Moran announced in October the tournament would be staying in Ohio. At the same time, Beemok said it was finalizing plans to renovate the Lindner Family Tennis Center where the tournament will remain. Founded in 1899, the tournament is entering its 125th year, making it one of the longest-tenured tennis tournaments. It turned professional in 1969 in Cincinnati, and has been in Mason since 1979.
January 8, 20241 yr 11 minutes ago, ryanlammi said: The Western & Southern Open has a new name The annual ATP/WTA tennis tournament in Mason will have a new name this year and it's one you may have heard before. The Western & Southern Open is returning to its original name, the Cincinnati Open. "Returning to Cincinnati Open as the tournament's name is an opportunity for us to celebrate its rich history at a time when we are also focused on a bold future and taking every possible step to grow and enhance the event," says Bob Moran, president of Beemok Sports & Entertainment, in a release. Beemok Capital purchased the tournament in 2022 and there were ongoing discussions about the possibility of relocating it to Charlotte, N.C. Moran announced in October the tournament would be staying in Ohio. At the same time, Beemok said it was finalizing plans to renovate the Lindner Family Tennis Center where the tournament will remain. Founded in 1899, the tournament is entering its 125th year, making it one of the longest-tenured tennis tournaments. It turned professional in 1969 in Cincinnati, and has been in Mason since 1979. Having it as the Cincinnati Open honestly makes more sense and is more beneficial to the area. There’s prolly a lot of people who you could ask where the Western and Southern Open is played and they would think it someplace in the southwest US.
January 8, 20241 yr Going from believing we would lose they tournament to Charlotte a couple months ago to not only retaining it but getting the old Cincinnati Open name back is quite the positive turn of events.
January 8, 20241 yr ^ I think the name is only a one year thing until they can complete the renovations and double the size at which case it will have a new presenting sponsor.
January 8, 20241 yr 5 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said: ^ I think the name is only a one year thing until they can complete the renovations and double the size at which case it will have a new presenting sponsor. I’m thinking the same, or will be “The Cincinnati Open by (company name)”* still interesting tho, they could have kept Western Southern on a mini deal for some extra revenue. Edited January 8, 20241 yr by 646empire
January 8, 20241 yr 7 minutes ago, 646empire said: I’m thinking the same, or will be “The Cincinnati Open by (company name)”* still interesting tho, they could have kept Western Southern on a mini deal for some extra revenue. 7 minutes ago, 646empire said: I’m thinking the same, or will be “The Cincinnati Open by (company name)”* still interesting tho, they could have kept Western Southern on a mini deal for some extra revenue. I figured it would be W&S Open one more year or the Credit One Masters this year until the expansion was completed.
March 12, 20241 yr Cincinnati Open unveils upgrades in advance of 2024 tennis tournament The Cincinnati Open, formerly known as the Western & Southern Open, has unveiled upgrades to the tournament's home in advance of the 2024 outing. Beemok Sports & Entertainment, which bought the Western & Southern Open in October 2022, announced March 12 a slew of upgrades to the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason in time for this year's tournament, slated for Aug. 11-19. Those include the redesign of the Top Deck at Center Court, a new hospitality offering and new practice courts. “While tennis is the main attraction, we want to create a world-class environment for all spectators to enjoy between the match action,” Bob Moran, president of Beemok Sports & Entertainment, said in a news release. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/03/12/beemok-cincinnati-open-tennis-tournament-upgrades.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 13, 20241 yr Saudi Arabia coming for the ATP Tour: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2024/03/12/saudi-arabia-launches-tennis-takeover-1-billion-pound-offer/
March 13, 20241 yr 12 minutes ago, Lazarus said: Saudi Arabia coming for the ATP Tour: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2024/03/12/saudi-arabia-launches-tennis-takeover-1-billion-pound-offer/ I'm sure the players will be up in arms against this, until they're paid to support it.
March 15, 20241 yr Full Series and Mini packages for 2024 went on sale this morning and are now sold out just hours later. Tremendous demand. The owners are very impressed and definitely made the right decision keeping the tournament here.
April 1, 20241 yr Cincinnati Open ticket packages sell out ahead of 2024 tennis tournament By Andy Brownfield – Managing editor, Cincinnati Business Courier Mar 28, 2024 Updated Mar 28, 2024 2:22pm EDT The tennis tournament formerly known as the Western & Southern Open is seeing massive interest among fans ahead of its 2024 outing – the first year in its new 25-year commitment to the Cincinnati region following a 2023 bid by Charlotte, N.C., to lure it away. The Cincinnati Open sold out all of its multi-day ticket packages within two and a half days in mid-March, which included two days of pre-sale access to members of the tournament's waitlist and just six hours on sale to the general public. Those included full-series packages to the entire tournament, and four different mini-plan packages, all of which allowed two- or three-day access to the Cincinnati Open. Single ticket sales will open to the general public April 24. Those on the waitlist will be able to access tickets beginning April 22. MORE
April 1, 20241 yr City of Mason agrees to demolition of Grizzly social lodge for tennis tournament By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier Apr 1, 2024 The city of Mason could demolish its social lodge and remove parking space used for the city-owned Grizzly golf course to make way for a “state-of-the-art development” from Beemok Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament. Mason City Council passed a resolution March 11 authorizing the city manager to negotiate final terms and execute an expedited pathway agreement with Beemok, as the company required almost immediate assurances the city was “agreeable” to razing the social lodge and removing the parking space. Work could begin as early as May 1. MORE
April 1, 20241 yr Doesn't seem like the actual pro shop is a part of this development (contrary to that rendering) but I do wish they would put some money back into the golf course itself.
April 26, 20241 yr If anyone wants to see the Mason Applebees (r.i.p.?) represented as a very important film location, you should watch the new Zendaya movie Challengers. I don't think it was actually filmed here, but it's cool to see a pop movie with a legit movie star being set here and hopefully adding to the cultural awareness of the Cincinnati open as an important event. Making tennis sexy and cool with movie stars is weird and interesting enough, having a pivotal scene happen in a suburban Cincinnati applebees is pretty hilarious and I'm here for it.
May 22, 20241 yr 260 Million Dollar Master Plan unveiled. To be complete for 2025. BIG TIME Stuff for Cincy. https://www.forbes.com/sites/timnewcomb/2024/05/20/cincinnati-open-reveals-complete-site-upgrade-for-2025/?sh=3c3e578a45b8 Edited May 22, 20241 yr by 646empire
July 8, 2024Jul 8 Cincinnati Open owner's daughter is in the Wimbledon quarter-finals: https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/08/sport/emma-navarro-wimbledon-us-tennis-spt-intl/index.html
August 9, 2024Aug 9 Cincinnati Open hits ‘unprecedented’ level of ticket sales as 2024 tournament prepares to get under way By Steve Watkins – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier Aug 9, 2024 The Cincinnati Open has reached an “unprecedented” level of ticket sales as one of the world’s top tennis tournaments prepares to get underway Sunday, Aug. 11. The Cincinnati Open has already sold the roughly 12,000 Center Court seats for 10 of the event’s 16 sessions at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason. That’s a level the tournament, which started in 1899, hasn’t reached in the past. MORE
August 17, 2024Aug 17 Cincinnati Open changes for 2025 will create facility unlike any in the country, Beemok leaders says The Cincinnati Open tennis tournament’s home at the Lindner Family Tennis Center has experienced major changes the past couple of years, but the biggest are yet to come. By next year’s event, "This will be a facility that's unlike any public facility, probably in the world, but certainly in the country, when it's finally finished,” Ford Perry, chief operating officer of tournament owner Beemok Capital, told Mason City Council at a meeting Monday, Aug. 12. “When you walk on campus, you won’t recognize it.” Beemok Capital, the Charleston, S.C.-based family office of businessman and philanthropist Ben Navarro, which owns the tournament, is making $260 million worth of improvements to the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, home of the Cincinnati Open. The tournament, taking place now through Aug. 19, is one of the world’s nine-largest pro tennis competitions featuring both men’s and women’s top-tier tour events at the same facility at the same time. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/08/16/beemok-invest-millions-more-mason-tennis-open-2025.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 21, 2024Aug 21 Cincinnati Open sets attendance record after changes with more to come, tournament chief says By Steve Watkins – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier Aug 20, 2024 As soon as Jannik Sinner put away Frances Tiafoe to win the Cincinnati Open men’s tennis title Monday night, Beemok Capital put the wraps on a record-setting event in its second year as owner. The tournament celebrated its 125th anniversary by drawing 205,068 fans over its nine days at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason this season. That’s easily the top figure under its current format of playing men’s and women’s tour events during the same week, a setup the tournament has had since 2011. It's one of the nine largest pro tennis tournaments in the world. The crowds broke the previous record of 199,217 set in 2015. MORE
August 21, 2024Aug 21 59 minutes ago, Rabbit Hash said: Did I hear the Saudis are courting this tourney? Heard no such thing. Courting it in what way?
August 21, 2024Aug 21 ^ https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/cincinnati-open-survived-charlotte-threat-could-saudi-arabia-be-next "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 21, 2024Aug 21 1 hour ago, ColDayMan said: ^ https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/cincinnati-open-survived-charlotte-threat-could-saudi-arabia-be-next Thanks for that. The headline is a bit of click bait. The whole article is long term speculation. Also the Saudi angle is silly because they are interested in tennis as a whole not necessarily Cincinnati’s spot. A massive investment is underway that will make the tennis center truly world class and it has huge public support, This tournament will be here for a long time to come.
October 31, 2024Oct 31 See how Cincinnati Open’s $260M in renovations at Lindner Family Tennis Center are taking shape The Cincinnati Open’s home at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason has taken on a dramatically different look than it had two and a half months ago when more than 200,000 fans packed the place for world-class tennis. Cranes prowl the property, ground has been dug up and new buildings are starting to take shape as the tournament’s owners make massive changes to prepare for next year’s greatly expanded field. Tournament owner Beemok Capital, the Charleston, S.C.-based family office of businessman and philanthropist Ben Navarro, is making $260 million worth of improvements as the tournament expands to 96 players each for the men’s ATP event and the women’s WTA event starting in 2025. That’s up from 56 players each in recent years. The tournament will expand to 14 days from nine as a result. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/10/30/first-look-tennis-open-beemok-renovation-progress.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 31, 2024Oct 31 After seeing the plans, they are truly turning this into a world-class event for the players (and fans!). I can't imagine any other Masters location has anywhere near the level of players facilities once these renovations are complete. It is also neat that the new 15,000sf players building will have clubhouses and a restaurant for the golf course and indoor tennis center that will be open year round. I thought this tournament was 100% moving to Charlotte, but looks like it will be here for a long long time.
October 31, 2024Oct 31 16 minutes ago, nicker66 said: After seeing the plans, they are truly turning this into a world-class event for the players (and fans!). I can't imagine any other Masters location has anywhere near the level of players facilities once these renovations are complete. It is also neat that the new 15,000sf players building will have clubhouses and a restaurant for the golf course and indoor tennis center that will be open year round. I thought this tournament was 100% moving to Charlotte, but looks like it will be here for a long long time. Sorry, Applebee's
November 19, 2024Nov 19 'It will look like a new place': Cincinnati Open chief shows off beginnings of $260M in tennis center renovations Fans attending the Cincinnati Open next year might not recognize the Lindner Family Tennis Center when they first set foot on the grounds in Mason. The frame of the two-story Clubhouse building towers to the west of Center Court. A building housing indoor tennis courts sits just south of there. The new fan pavilion structure is taking shape northeast of Center Court. A new operations building is popping up west of Center Court. And a new stadium court is under construction to the south. “And this is only 84 days into it,” Bob Moran, president of Beemok Sports and Entertainment who serves as tournament director, told me Monday, Nov. 18, before a ceremony with government officials celebrating the topping off of the Clubhouse building. “It’s exactly what we were hoping for. It’s really coming along well.” More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/11/19/tennis-open-lindner-center-renovations-underway.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 20, 2024Nov 20 This is fantastic. I'm pumped. This tournament is the only local sporting event I actually try to go to every year, it's so much fun. Very excited for the improvements.
February 27Feb 27 Cincinnati Open tennis tournament debuts 'ultra-premium' Garden Suites The Cincinnati Open today unveiled a new bloc of bunker suites at Center Court of the Lindner Family Tennis Center called the Garden Suites. Located at the northwest corner of the stadium, each unit will include a private open-air terrace, climate-controlled interior lounge, personal attendant and food and beverage offerings curated by celebrity chef Jet Tila (who will also appear on site). Garden Suite buyers will use separate VIP parking and gate entry and have access to communal courtyard space. “We learned a lot at the 2024 event. We were seeing unprecedented demand for our premium products,” Cincinnati Open Chief Operating Officer Jansen Dell said in a news release. “But in conversations we had with folks that were purchasing those areas, we had premium offerings for everybody except for the ultra-premium buyer. The Garden Suite concept was really born out of those conversations.” More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/02/26/cincinnati-open-garden-suites-debut.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 7May 7 Cincinnati Open hires award-winning executive chef to oversee food operations amid $260M expansionThe expanded Cincinnati Open tennis tournament venue will feature expanded food offerings starting in 2025 so it has brought in an award-winning chef to oversee the menu.Andrew Alcid has been hired by Levy, which handles hospitality for the tournament and for its Lindner Family Tennis Center home in Mason, as executive chef for the Cincinnati Open. He will head up culinary operations for Levy at the facility.Alcid arrives as the Cincinnati Open is in the midst of a $260 million expansion of the Lindner Family Tennis Center that will add three kitchens, among other upgrades.More below:https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/05/07/tennis-open-food-hires-executive-chef-andrew-alcid.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 6Jun 6 See the latest progress on Cincinnati Open’s massive, $260M construction project: PHOTOSBy Steve Watkins – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business CourierJun 6, 2025The Cincinnati Open’s massive $260 million in renovations have clearly taken shape and fans at this year’s event won’t recognize the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason when they walk through the gates.“You’re going to get lost,” Bob Moran, Cincinnati Open tournament director and president of tournament owner Beemok Capital’s Beemok Sports and Entertainment unit, told me Wednesday as he updated me on the game-changing project.He’s been on site the past three weeks, and the progress just in that span “is amazing,” Moran said. “Things are flying.”MORE
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