MASON, Ohio – Mason City Council on Monday unanimously committed $15 million in economic development incentives to keep the Western & Southern Open in the city.
Beemok Capital, a company owned by South Carolina billionaire Ben Navarro, bought the tournament from the United States Tennis Association last August.
More:Mason to discuss how to keep Western & Southern tournament at special meeting Monday
The Charlotte Business Journal reported in May that a $400 million tennis complex would be part of a deal to relocate the tournament to Charlotte.
Beemok Capitol’s Ford Perry attended the special council meeting virtually to discuss extending the tournament to two weeks and expanding the Lindner Tennis Center. Mason City Manager Eric Hansen said Perry was unable to attend in person because he has COVID-19.
Ohio state Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, and Sen. Steve Wilson, R-Maineville, attended the meeting, as did representatives from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Regional Economic Development Initiative Cincinnati.
‘We want you here and we’re going to keep you here’
Mathews added $22.5 million to the House-passed version of the state budget to expand and renovate the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
Wilson said additional state help will include $25 million for the expansion of the Lindner Tennis Center and a pot of $1 billion that can be used for projects like this if there are other needs.
He said Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman will jump in a plane and sit down face to face with Navarro, if needed.
“We want you here and we’re going to keep you here,” Wilson said.
Perry said Beemok wants to expand access to the center with collegiate championships, a tennis academy and other racket sports including pickleball.
Pickleball courts, suites and a fan plaza
He said Beemok wants the facility to be a cultural center for concerts and festivals and and “affordable and accessible” for direct community use.
Perry said extending the tournament to two weeks will mean the center needs at least 30 courts, more player facilities like locker rooms and physio massage spaces and more green space on the campus for fans.
He showed the council renderings of a fan plaza, VIP club, suites, players building and pickleball courts.
Mason City Council member Kathy Grossmann referred to choosing between Mason and Charlotte as a “David and Goliath” situation.
“[David] ended up knocking this giant down with a little pebble and I believe very strongly that Mason and the experiences we’ve had from public-private partnerships or regional partnerships in our community, our 500 annual volunteers in all of the equity that we build over the decades gives us the right heart,” she said.
Erin Glynn is the watchdog reporter for Butler, Warren and Clermont counties through the Report For America program. The Enquirer needs local donors to help fund her grant-funded position. If you want to support Glynn’s work, you can donate to her Report For America position…
Read More: Mason commits $15 million to keeping Western & Southern Open in Ohio 2023-06-05 17:02:49