What is new at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament (aside from the name)? Take a look

Posted by Admin August 9, 2024 Tennis

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Attendees might notice many new offerings at this year’s Cincinnati Open, in addition to its semi-new name.

The 2024 Cincinnati Open, formerly the Western & Southern Open, returns to Mason Aug. 11-19 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, where it has been held since 1979. The 125-year-old tournament, the country’s longest-running event of its kind played in its city of origin, is expected to feature several superstar players.

In honor of a major anniversary, the tournament is introducing a range of new features for 2024, starting with the switch of its name from the Western & Southern Open back to its original name, the Cincinnati Open, for the first time since 1901.

Stadium upgrades, new lounge areas and more community programming are among the updates the world-renowned tournament has made to celebrate 125 years. Here’s what’s new to the event this year.

Fans get early access to the venue for first-ever Community Day

New this year is a Community Day on Saturday, Aug. 10, giving fans early access to the venue before matches begin on Sunday. The event, hosted from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., features autograph sessions with players, yoga, live music, tastings at the Top Deck and other special events.

An exhibition doubles match featuring tennis stars Andre Agassi and John Isner versus Andy Roddick and Mardy Fishwill headline the event at 2 p.m.

Tickets for the event, ranging from $10-$50, are available for purchase at cincinnatiopen.com/tickets/community-day/ with proceeds benefitting Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Fresh logo and limited-edition 125th anniversary merchandise

A new logo featuring the tournament’s new name will debut this year at Community Day on Saturday, Aug. 10, with new branded tournament merchandise available for purchase. Attendees can also enjoy limited-edition merchandise commemorating the 125th anniversary of the tournament.

The merchandise shop itself has a new look with apparel from Legends, a new merchandise vendor, Pete Holtermann, the Cincinnati Open media director, told The Enquirer.

New seating at Center Court and Grandstand Court

Seating has been removed and replaced at both the Center Court and the Grandstand Court as part of a $260 million investment in renovating the venue.

Each of the nearly 12,000 seats at Center Court have been replaced with stadium seats, featuring padded seat bottoms on all lower bowl seats and oversized padded seats in all premium seat locations. For all seating, attendees can enjoy new armrests, cupholders and extra legroom.

Fifty on-court seats have been added to Center Court as part of the enhancements. These seats are sold on a full series and single session basis.

The bleachers at Grandstand Court have been replaced with padded seats for the entire lower bowl and oversized, suite-style seats along the north baseline.

Private lounge added to corner of Center Court

An open-air, private lounge area called The Oasis is now in the northeast corner of Center Court. Ticket holders in sections 209-211 have access to the private lounge. There, a menu of curated Italian style food and drink will be offered.

Tickets to The Oasis can be purchased on a mini-plan package or single session basis. Full series packages for 2024 are sold out.

VIP option with seats that feature cooling technology

The tournament has added a new VIP experience, Baseline Premier Box Seats at Center Court, featuring climate control, cooling technology seating and built-in mini-fridges for water and cold towels. These boxes also have access to Center Court’s 1899 Club – an indoor, air-conditioned viewing experience with a buffet and full-service cocktail bar.

Suites at Grandstand Court, upgrades to Center Court suites

Added Grandstand Suites are the first hospitality offering at Grandstand Court, the tournament’s second-largest stadium. They are available to host groups of various sizes.

Crosscourt Suites, which overlook Center Court from the southwest corner, have been upgraded with new layouts and updated finishes.

The suites are available on a single session basis for sessions 1 and 2 of the tournament.

Four new practice courts

The venue now has four new practice courts, bumping the total to 21 courts across the site and giving fans more opportunities to watch the star players warm up.

New global brands partnering with the Cincinnati Open in 2024

Some new brands are hopping on to partner with the Cincinnati Open in 2024, including Betway, Holcim, SAP and Cadillac. Emirates, Rolex, Hologic, Fila, Cintas, TriHealth, Cincinnati Children’s, Prasco, JobsOhio and GreenSet are continuing their sponsorships.

New vendors serving food, drinks

A handful of vendors are joining the tournament’s extensive dining options, including Alfio’s Buon Cibo with authentic Italian-Argentine cuisine, Playa Bowls and Taste of Belgium.

La Crema Wine Garden is also the new official wine vendor for the tournament this year.

What’s coming to the Cincinnati Open in 2025?

To continue the venue’s $260 million renovation project, the tournament will add a new facade wrapping both Center Court and Grandstand Court in the heart of the renovated campus. There will be a permanent, shaded fan plaza on the north side of campus that will serve as a gathering spot for fans, The Enquirer previously reported.

To the south, a brand-new 2,000-seat sunken stadium will be the fourth largest of the venue’s five permanent stadiums. That’s one of 10 new courts set to be added to the site to help accommodate the expansion to 96 players in the ATP and WTA singles field.

There will also be a new 56,000 square-foot, two-story player center that’ll include lounge and restaurant space for the tournament’s players and their support teams, the tournament announced. Renovations (additional locker rooms, expanded fitness center) will be made to the existing player facilities on the three lowest floors of the Paul Flory Player Center.

Additional work for the campus includes a new, six-court indoor facility, six pickleball courts and two padel courts on the grounds.

Beyond changes to the campus, the tournament will expand to two weeks of competition for both men and women in 2025.