Lindner Family Tennis Center facts for kids
| Location | Mason, Ohio, United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | Tennis for Charity, Inc. |
| Operator | Cincinnati Tennis, LLC |
| Capacity | 11,614 (Center Court) 5,000 (Grandstand) 2,300 (Champions) 4,000 (Stadium 3) 2,000 (Court 10) |
| Surface | Hard, Outdoors |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1979 |
| Opened | 1979 1981 – Center Court 1995 – Grandstand (Court 2) 1997 – Courts 10 2010 – Stadium 3 2025 – Champions Court |
| Renovated | 2009–2010 2024–2025 |
| Expanded | Continuously since 1979 |
| Construction cost | Initial: $35 million 2009–2010: $10 million 2024–2025: $260 million |
| Architect | Browning Day (1981, 1995, 1997, 2010) Gensler & Barton Malow (2024, 2025) |
| Main contractors | Vector Construction of Northern Kentucky |
| Tenants | |
| Cincinnati Open (1979–present) | |
The Lindner Family Tennis Center is a famous tennis place in Mason, Ohio, USA. It is the home of the Cincinnati Open, a big tennis tournament. A group called Tennis for Charity, Inc. owns the center.
This center is special because it has five main tennis stadiums. These are Center Court, Grandstand Court, Champions Court, Stadium 3, and Court 10. It is the only tennis venue in the world, besides the four Grand Slam locations, with more than two permanent stadiums. Center Court was built in 1981 and has been made bigger many times. It can hold 11,600 people.
The center is named after the Lindner family. They were important sponsors of the tournament. Carl Lindner, Jr. was a Cincinnati financier from this family.
Tennis Courts and Stadiums
The Lindner Family Tennis Center has a total of 31 tennis courts. Five of these are large, permanent stadiums. These stadiums host exciting matches during tournaments.
| Stadium | Built Year | Seating Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Center Court | 1981 | 11,600 |
| Grandstand Court | 1995 | 5,000 |
| Champions Court | 2025 | 2,300 |
| Stadium 3 | 2010 | 4,000 |
| Court 10 | 1997 | 2,000 |
History of the Tennis Center
The Cincinnati Open moved to this location in 1979. Before that, the tournament was held at Coney Island amusement park. But the Ohio River often flooded that area.
One of the tournament sponsors, Taft Broadcasting, owned the Kings Island Amusement Park nearby. They also owned the Golf Center at Kings Island. This golf center was right across the highway from the amusement park. Charles Mechem, who led Taft Broadcasting, suggested moving the tournament to the Golf Center land. The tournament organizers, led by Paul M. Flory, agreed.
At first, four tennis courts were built. Bleachers from Coney Island were moved to one court to create a temporary Center Court. Two years later, in 1981, construction began on a permanent Center Court. Since then, the seating and facilities at Center Court have been improved almost every year.
A big expansion happened in 1987. The first West Building was added. This building gave players and media a place to work. It also had luxury suites for fans. In 1990, more suites were added, and Center Court could then hold 10,000 people. By 1998, two more courts were built, bringing the total to 10 courts.
In 2010, the Tennis Center got a new "West Building." It is now called The Paul M. Flory Player Center. This name honors Paul M. Flory, who led the tournament for 36 years. The new building is very large, offering more space for players, media, and fans. It is about twice as tall as the old West Building. A roof was added over the west stands, giving more covered seats. After this renovation, Center Court could seat 11,400 people.
In 2011, the grounds grew by over 40%. Six new courts were added, making a total of 16 courts. One of these was Court 3, which became the third court shown on television. The expansion also included a new main entrance, a plaza, and a ticket office.
In 2012, the food court and exhibit areas were made bigger. The northern entrance was also improved. The center has continued to grow and improve over the years. For example, major renovations took place in 2024 and 2025.
Other Events Hosted Here
The Lindner Family Tennis Center hosts more than just the Cincinnati Open. It is also a venue for college tennis championships. These include the Atlantic 10 Conference Tennis Championships and the Ohio Athletic Conference Tennis Championships.
The center has also hosted professional sand volleyball tournaments. It has been a place for special events like concerts and charity fundraisers. Many high school tennis tournaments from across the state and region are held here too.
Since the 2015–2016 school year, the Ohio High School Athletic Association state championship tournament has taken place at the center. This big high school event used to be held at other locations.
See also
In Spanish: Lindner Family Tennis Center para niños
- List of tennis stadiums by capacity
