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I really enjoy the Tournament and if you have never been i suggested you go soon as its possible it could be in its last years

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/war...-charlotte

(05-29-2023 04:23 PM)BearcatDave Wrote:  I really enjoy the Tournament and if you have never been i suggested you go soon as its possible it could be in its last years

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/war...-charlotte

Really sad, my family was into tennis so I would look forward to going every year growing up. I don't make it every year anymore but I try to go as often as possible. Unfortunate considering it's always been extremely well regarded by everybody as arguably the marquee non-Grand Slam event in the US. But the new owner is from Charlotte and seems intent on moving there regardless of if upgrades are made here.

Hopefully if it does move they're at least able to attract a lower profile event to replace it.

(05-30-2023 09:11 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(05-29-2023 04:23 PM)BearcatDave Wrote:  I really enjoy the Tournament and if you have never been i suggested you go soon as its possible it could be in its last years

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/war...-charlotte

Really sad, my family was into tennis so I would look forward to going every year growing up. I don't make it every year anymore but I try to go as often as possible. Unfortunate considering it's always been extremely well regarded by everybody as arguably the marquee non-Grand Slam event in the US. But the new owner is from Charlotte and seems intent on moving there regardless of if upgrades are made here.

Hopefully if it does move they're at least able to attract a lower profile event to replace it.

Yeah i'm not too confident it stays, but the public in Charlotte would have to approve the building a new stadium with taxpayer money so that might help and it also sounds like the ATP committee has to approve it as well.

I will definitely plan on going this year and next. I've been several times but missed last year due to being on call the week that i normally would have went.

Haven't been in a few years, so I'll have to make it back this ssummer. It's a great event. Have great memories going when I was a kid. I remember it took the announcer like 5 minutes to recite all the titles Mats Wilander had recently won. Stephan Edberg dominated. Michael Chang was tiny but had tree trunks for legs. Boris Becker dove all over the place. We rooted super hard for Pete Sampras, who had won the US Open, and he lost the final to a French guy named Guy Forget, which we thought was the most hilarious name ever.

How did the folks who run and support this event let some jerk from Charlotte steal it away?

I am not sure. Let's hope it doesn't move. Those are some great memories levydl.

My favorite are getting to see Osaka play and also Djokovic signing a ball for my daughter after his practice session.

I used to get freebie box seats in a past life. It really is a fabulous event. It will be a shame if it leaves.

He gone.

I volunteered there for 25 years. From the old days of wooden bleacher seats on the side courts to one of the world's top 15 tournaments. And speaking of those wooden bleacher seats - during one Saturday morning of qualifying there were only two spectators watching a side court match: Bill Cunningham and Rod Laver. I was sitting there keeping score. Got the "Rocket" to sign my ATP program.

(Not remembering the exact timeline) The tournament originated back in the late 1800s, but by the mid-70s it was failing being held at a local tennis club. Sometime around then Paul Flory was named tournament director and he had the tournament moved to Coney Island. After 3 or 4 years there (I believe one year it was held at Queen City Racquet Club) it was permanently moved to Mason in 1979.

Paul Flory had immense respect throughout all of tennis - and all of Cincinnati. He was able to build it over the years as one of 9 Masters level men's tournaments, and also to bring back women's professional tennis through the WTA. But as the tourney grew, Paul was also looking to the future of the tournament without his leadership. So in 2008 the Cincinnati tournament was sold to the USTA who also owns the US Open in New York.

Paul passed away in 2013. I retired from volunteering the following year. The tournament definitely had a different feel now run by people that did not have Paul's understanding of Cincinnati and the value of the tournament. It definitely had a more corporate feel with less access to players, more corporate events, higher concessions and ticket prices.

During the Covid year, many of you might remember they decided not to play in Cincinnati but ran the same "Western & Southern" tournament at the USTA facility in New York. (Because Covid was much safer there). Actually they felt the players would be at lower risk by travelling less. Or the US Open was just trying to save some of their expected revenue losses by taking it away from Cincinnati.

Since the tournament became such big business owned by out of town interests, it does not surprise me that it was sold to an investment firm - Beemok Capital. And now the principal of that firm is attempting to leverage the city of Charlotte to build him a replica of our Mason site.

(06-06-2023 03:09 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  I volunteered there for 25 years. From the old days of wooden bleacher seats on the side courts to one of the world's top 15 tournaments. And speaking of those wooden bleacher seats - during one Saturday morning of qualifying there were only two spectators watching a side court match: Bill Cunningham and Rod Laver. I was sitting there keeping score. Got the "Rocket" to sign my ATP program.

(Not remembering the exact timeline) The tournament originated back in the late 1800s, but by the mid-70s it was failing being held at a local tennis club. Sometime around then Paul Flory was named tournament director and he had the tournament moved to Coney Island. After 3 or 4 years there (I believe one year it was held at Queen City Racquet Club) it was permanently moved to Mason in 1979.

Paul Flory had immense respect throughout all of tennis - and all of Cincinnati. He was able to build it over the years as one of 9 Masters level men's tournaments, and also to bring back women's professional tennis through the WTA. But as the tourney grew, Paul was also looking to the future of the tournament without his leadership. So in 2008 the Cincinnati tournament was sold to the USTA who also owns the US Open in New York.

Paul passed away in 2013. I retired from volunteering the following year. The tournament definitely had a different feel now run by people that did not have Paul's understanding of Cincinnati and the value of the tournament. It definitely had a more corporate feel with less access to players, more corporate events, higher concessions and ticket prices.

During the Covid year, many of you might remember they decided not to play in Cincinnati but ran the same "Western & Southern" tournament at the USTA facility in New York. (Because Covid was much safer there). Actually they felt the players would be at lower risk by travelling less. Or the US Open was just trying to save some of their expected revenue losses by taking it away from Cincinnati.

Since the tournament became such big business owned by out of town interests, it does not surprise me that it was sold to an investment firm - Beemok Capital. And now the principal of that firm is attempting to leverage the city of Charlotte to build him a replica of our Mason site.

Interesting background on it. Sounds like Paul was a great guy. Really hope it doesn't leave Cincy. Can't really see Charlotte and NASCAR country as a big tennis part of the country.. but we will see.

(06-07-2023 02:12 PM)BearcatDave Wrote:  

(06-06-2023 03:09 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  I volunteered there for 25 years. From the old days of wooden bleacher seats on the side courts to one of the world's top 15 tournaments. And speaking of those wooden bleacher seats - during one Saturday morning of qualifying there were only two spectators watching a side court match: Bill Cunningham and Rod Laver. I was sitting there keeping score. Got the "Rocket" to sign my ATP program.

(Not remembering the exact timeline) The tournament originated back in the late 1800s, but by the mid-70s it was failing being held at a local tennis club. Sometime around then Paul Flory was named tournament director and he had the tournament moved to Coney Island. After 3 or 4 years there (I believe one year it was held at Queen City Racquet Club) it was permanently moved to Mason in 1979.

Paul Flory had immense respect throughout all of tennis - and all of Cincinnati. He was able to build it over the years as one of 9 Masters level men's tournaments, and also to bring back women's professional tennis through the WTA. But as the tourney grew, Paul was also looking to the future of the tournament without his leadership. So in 2008 the Cincinnati tournament was sold to the USTA who also owns the US Open in New York.

Paul passed away in 2013. I retired from volunteering the following year. The tournament definitely had a different feel now run by people that did not have Paul's understanding of Cincinnati and the value of the tournament. It definitely had a more corporate feel with less access to players, more corporate events, higher concessions and ticket prices.

During the Covid year, many of you might remember they decided not to play in Cincinnati but ran the same "Western & Southern" tournament at the USTA facility in New York. (Because Covid was much safer there). Actually they felt the players would be at lower risk by travelling less. Or the US Open was just trying to save some of their expected revenue losses by taking it away from Cincinnati.

Since the tournament became such big business owned by out of town interests, it does not surprise me that it was sold to an investment firm - Beemok Capital. And now the principal of that firm is attempting to leverage the city of Charlotte to build him a replica of our Mason site.

Interesting background on it. Sounds like Paul was a great guy. Really hope it doesn't leave Cincy. Can't really see Charlotte and NASCAR country as a big tennis part of the country.. but we will see.

Paul was the best! He attempted to groom his son to takeover his leadership. Though his son, Bruce, was physically handicapped in a wheelchair, the USTA folks never gave him a chance after 2 years as the Tournament Director under their ownership he was let go.

(06-07-2023 02:24 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  

(06-07-2023 02:12 PM)BearcatDave Wrote:  

(06-06-2023 03:09 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  I volunteered there for 25 years. From the old days of wooden bleacher seats on the side courts to one of the world's top 15 tournaments. And speaking of those wooden bleacher seats - during one Saturday morning of qualifying there were only two spectators watching a side court match: Bill Cunningham and Rod Laver. I was sitting there keeping score. Got the "Rocket" to sign my ATP program.

(Not remembering the exact timeline) The tournament originated back in the late 1800s, but by the mid-70s it was failing being held at a local tennis club. Sometime around then Paul Flory was named tournament director and he had the tournament moved to Coney Island. After 3 or 4 years there (I believe one year it was held at Queen City Racquet Club) it was permanently moved to Mason in 1979.

Paul Flory had immense respect throughout all of tennis - and all of Cincinnati. He was able to build it over the years as one of 9 Masters level men's tournaments, and also to bring back women's professional tennis through the WTA. But as the tourney grew, Paul was also looking to the future of the tournament without his leadership. So in 2008 the Cincinnati tournament was sold to the USTA who also owns the US Open in New York.

Paul passed away in 2013. I retired from volunteering the following year. The tournament definitely had a different feel now run by people that did not have Paul's understanding of Cincinnati and the value of the tournament. It definitely had a more corporate feel with less access to players, more corporate events, higher concessions and ticket prices.

During the Covid year, many of you might remember they decided not to play in Cincinnati but ran the same "Western & Southern" tournament at the USTA facility in New York. (Because Covid was much safer there). Actually they felt the players would be at lower risk by travelling less. Or the US Open was just trying to save some of their expected revenue losses by taking it away from Cincinnati.

Since the tournament became such big business owned by out of town interests, it does not surprise me that it was sold to an investment firm - Beemok Capital. And now the principal of that firm is attempting to leverage the city of Charlotte to build him a replica of our Mason site.

Interesting background on it. Sounds like Paul was a great guy. Really hope it doesn't leave Cincy. Can't really see Charlotte and NASCAR country as a big tennis part of the country.. but we will see.

Paul was the best! He attempted to groom his son to takeover his leadership. Though his son, Bruce, was physically handicapped in a wheelchair, the USTA folks never gave him a chance after 2 years as the Tournament Director under their ownership he was let go.

Thats a shame they didn't give him more of a chance. I guess either way noone could have foreseen this billionaire buying the tournament.

I may take a few days off around the tournament time. We could have a board meetup potentially. I need to take my daughter during the kids part of the weekend but a day off during the week is always a good thing too.

Update from Cincy Enquirer

Western & Southern Open optimism
For several weeks, leaders working to keep the Western & Southern Open in Mason knew about the tournament owner’s flirtation with Charlotte.

But Greater Cincinnati leaders were surprised by the level of details released last week in Charlotte’s $400 million plan to lure the tournament. Detailed renderings and cost estimates had some initially worried that tournament owner Ben Navarro might already have one foot out the door in Greater Cincinnati.

Emotions have since quelled, and Greater Cincinnati leaders are working hard to keep the tournament. One big positive: Talks with one of the Lindner Family Tennis Center’s neighbor regarding land use are progressing after initial pushback.

Part of a $150 million expansion plan of the Lindner Family Tennis Center calls for building a new boulevard and entrance way, creating easier access from Kings Mill Road. The road would require using land owned by Sinclair Community College, which has a branch campus north of the tennis center. Sinclair officials have been open to the new roadway after initially not liking the idea, I’m told.

Going to to tennis tournament this weekend. Deciding between saturday or sunday. Looks like saturday evening already sold out

Great news!!!!

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/...128845007/