Western & Southern Open could be relocating as new owner looks at moving
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After more than 120 years, the Western & Southern Open is in jeopardy of leaving Cincinnati.The major tennis tournament has been attracting the top players in the game since the beginning.Now, the rights to the tournament have been purchased, and the billionaire who bought it is trying to decide if he will take it to a new city, Charlotte.Not lost on those attending a high school tournament at the facility is the impact that the tournament has had on making tennis history and memories in Cincinnati since 1899.”I have so many good memories of seeing Back in the day Match Wilander, Stefan Edberg, Andre Agassi,” tennis fan Stefanie Lex said. “So the thought of not having it is so sad to me, to not have it here in Cincinnati.”Brian Vass, another tennis fan, said he volunteered at the facility for over 20 years.”My kids are ball kids, and it would just be extremely disappointing if I moved out of town,” Vass said.Now, a new proposal could move the tournament out of Cincinnati. “I don’t know how many people from downtown Cincinnati have come to me and said, we have to keep this tournament,” Warren County Commissioner Dave Young said.Young said the new owner of the tournament has a decision to make.”So now the new owner, it’s his responsibility and really his decision to say, where do I want to have this tournament? And we’re doing everything possible from the city,” Young said.Businessman and billionaire Ben Navarro reportedly paid $300 million to buy the rights to the Western & Southern Open.Navarro already has plans for a state-of-the-art tennis facility and is now pitching it to Charlotte.Potential government partners in Charlotte are now discussing how much help they might give to make it happen. It’s an estimated $300-500 million. In Cincinnati, the cost would be closer to $150 million in upgrades.Navarro’s company put out a statement on Wednesday saying they plan to make a decision sometime after the tournament this summer.
After more than 120 years, the Western & Southern Open is in jeopardy of leaving Cincinnati.
The major tennis tournament has been attracting the top players in the game since the beginning.
Now, the rights to the tournament have been purchased, and the billionaire who bought it is trying to decide if he will take it to a new city, Charlotte.
Not lost on those attending a high school tournament at the facility is the impact that the tournament has had on making tennis history and memories in Cincinnati since 1899.
“I have so many good memories of seeing Back in the day Match Wilander, Stefan Edberg, Andre Agassi,” tennis fan Stefanie Lex said. “So the thought of not having it is so sad to me, to not have it here in Cincinnati.”
Brian Vass, another tennis fan, said he volunteered at the facility for over 20 years.
“My kids are ball kids, and it would just be extremely disappointing if I moved out of town,” Vass said.
Now, a new proposal could move the tournament out of…
Read More: Western & Southern Open could be relocating as new owner looks at moving 2023-05-10 23:08:00
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