Lindner Family Tennis Center facts for kids
| Location | Mason, Ohio, United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | Tennis for Charity, Inc. |
| Operator | Cincinnati Tennis, LLC |
| Capacity | 11,435 (Center Court) 5,000 (Grandstand Court) 4,000 (Court #3) 2,000 (Court #10) |
| Surface | Hard, Outdoors |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1979 |
| Opened | 1979 1981 – Center Court 1995 – Grandstand Court 1997 – Court 3 |
| Renovated | Browning Day (2009–2010, 11 months) |
| Expanded | Continuously since 1979 |
| Construction cost | Estimated at $35 million (Latest renovation, 2009–2010, was $10 million) |
| Architect | Browning Day (1981, 1995, 1997, 2010) |
| Main contractors | Vector Construction of Northern Kentucky |
| Tenants | |
| Cincinnati Masters (Men's & Women's Tennis) (1979–present) |
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The Lindner Family Tennis Center is a special tennis place in Mason, Ohio. It is the home of a big tennis tournament called the Western & Southern Open. A group called Tennis for Charity, Inc. owns this center.
What makes this place unique is that it has four main tennis courts. These are called Center Court, Grandstand Court, Court 3, and Court 10. This is very rare! Only the four Grand Slam venues in the world have more than two main courts.
The biggest court, Center Court, was built in 1981. It has been made bigger many times. Now, it can hold 11,400 people. Grandstand Court was built in 1995 and seats 5,000 fans. Court 3, built in 2010, can hold 4,000 people. Court 10, built in 1997, holds 2,000 people.
The center is named after the Lindner family. They were important sponsors of the tournament. Carl Lindner, Jr., a financier from Cincinnati, was part of this family. The architectural firm Browning Day helped design the center from the start.
Contents
History of the Tennis Center
Moving to Mason, Ohio
The tennis tournament, now known as the Western & Southern Open, moved here in 1979. Before that, it was held at the Coney Island amusement park. But the Ohio River often flooded that area. This made it hard to play tennis there.
One of the tournament sponsors was Taft Broadcasting. They owned the Kings Island Amusement Park in Mason. They also owned land nearby called the Golf Center at Kings Island. Charles Mechem, who led Taft Broadcasting, suggested moving the tournament to this land. The tournament organizers, led by Paul M. Flory, agreed.
Early Days and Growth
When the tournament first moved, four tennis courts were built. The bleachers from Coney Island were brought over. They were placed around one court to create the first Center Court.
Two years later, in 1981, new construction began on Center Court. Since then, the seating and other parts of Center Court have been improved almost every year.
A big expansion happened in 1987. A building called the West Building was added. This building gave players and media a place to work. It also had fancy suites for fans. In 1990, more suites were added. This made Center Court big enough for 10,000 people. By 1998, two more courts were built. This brought the total number of courts to 10.
Modern Upgrades and Expansions
In 2010, the Tennis Center got a major upgrade. A new "West Building" was built. 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 Player Center is very large, about 52,000 square feet. It has space for players, media, and fans. It is much taller than the old building. A roof was added over the west stands. This gives more covered seats for fans. After this renovation, Center Court could hold 11,400 people.
In 2011, the tennis grounds grew even more. The area expanded by over 40 percent. Six new courts were added, making a total of 16 courts. One of these new courts was Court 3. This court is used for television broadcasts of the tournament. The expansion also included a new main entrance and ticket office.
In 2012, the food court and exhibit areas were made bigger. The northern entrance was also improved.
Other Events Held Here
The Lindner Family Tennis Center hosts more than just the Western & Southern Open. It is also used for other sports events.
For example, it holds college tennis championships. These include the Atlantic 10 Conference Tennis Championships and the Ohio Athletic Conference Tennis Championships. It has also hosted professional sand volleyball tournaments.
Sometimes, special events like concerts happen here. It also hosts a yearly fundraising event for Hospice of Cincinnati. Many high school tennis tournaments from around the country and region are played here too.
Since the 2015–2016 school year, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has held its state championship tennis tournament at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Before this, the tournament was held at The Ohio State University.
See also
In Spanish: Lindner Family Tennis Center para niños
