Western & Southern Open begins $260 million in upgrades. Here's what's changing in Mason
In October, it was announced that the Western & Southern Open would be staying in Cincinnati for the next 25 years.
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The tournament's Cincinnati future was in question with a potential move to Charlotte, North Carolina, but state and local lawmakers were able to match the $130 million in enhancement investments from Beemok Sports & Entertainment.
The initial phase of the $260 million investment to enhance the Lindner Family Tennis Center, the home of the Western & Southern Open since 1979, will take place prior to the 2024 tournament. Each of the nearly 12,000 seats in Center Court will be replaced to add more spacious, comfortable seating options − including a select few with first-of-its-kind climate control − while preserving the intimacy of the stadium, according to a press release.
Additional seating improvements will also be made to the venue's Grandstand Court.
"Our intention is for every person who visits the tournament to enjoy a world-class, elevated experience," President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment Bob Moran said in a statement. "These seating upgrades will be an immediate improvement for spectators and are a signal of the continued investments and enhancements that will be made over the coming years."
The Center Court changes include: replacing all bleachers with seats, padded seat bottoms on all lower-bowl seats and oversized, padded seats in all premium seat locations. All Center Court seats will include armrests and cupholders with these upgrades with maximized leg room and aisle space.
New premium seats for Western & Southern Open
The Baseline Premier Box Seats will be a new premium seating opportunity, featuring oversized seats with climate control, cooling technology. The boxes will include built-in mini fridges and access to the 1899 Club, which offers all-inclusive food and non-alcoholic beverages, according to the release.
The tournament will also add 50 on-court seats for an intimate experience for fans, which will be sold on a full series and single-session basis.
Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic were tournament champions in 2023
According to a video from Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic announcing that the tournament was staying in Cincinnati, over 200,000 people attended the 2023 Western & Southern Open.
Djokovic and Gauff won singles championships in August. Djokovic, in his first tournament on American soil since 2019, defeated No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the longest match in Western & Southern Open history (3 hours, 49 minutes).
Gauff, 19, became the first teenager to win the Western & Southern Open since 1968 when she defeated Karolina Muchova in straight sets to capture the Rookwood Cup.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: W&S Open begins $260 million in upgrades to Lindner Family Tennis Center
