Tennis Center's basketball debut showcases year-round potential
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The campus already hosts various sports, with other proposed uses including car shows and concerts. Photo: Courtesy of Cincinnati Tennis
The hardwood court arriving at the Lindner Family Tennis Center this fall won't be there for long, but Warren County leaders hope the message it sends lasts all year.
Why it matters: October's outdoor CareSource Invitational is the first proof the venue's $260 million transformation can drive year-round tourism beyond the Cincinnati Open.
- The addition of a music venue could be on the horizon, Warren County Commissioner Dave Young says.
Driving the news: Center court in Mason will host a men's college basketball exhibition featuring Ohio State, Cincinnati, Xavier and Dayton.
- The stadium will transform into a 12,000-seat basketball venue with food, drinks and entertainment across the 40-acre campus.
What they're saying: "It's exactly what we envisioned when we did this deal," Young says, referring to the renovation funded jointly by the county and Beemok Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Cincinnati Open.
- About half of the project's cost came from the state and local governments. Young says finding ways to get more public use from the property was a big part of the sales pitch.
- "For that amount of public investment it's common sense to know it's got to be used more than two weeks out of the year."
The big picture: Warren County relies on tourism and proudly proclaims itself "Ohio's Largest Playground."
- Visitors generated a record $1.74 billion in economic impact for the county last year, supporting more than 14,000 jobs.
Zoom in: The Lindner Family Tennis Center offers untapped potential, Young says.
- The new year-round amenities give residents a chance to use the indoor and outdoor tennis, padel and bocce courts.
- Inside the clubhouse there's a restaurant and public hangout spots, including a rooftop patio that hosts live music and trivia nights.
- The new-look campus was designed to host a variety of events with minimal changes, says Ben Baumeister, Cincinnati Tennis' senior director of event strategy.
The intrigue: Concerts are another potential draw, Young says.
- He's floated the idea of building an outdoor music venue somewhere on the property.
The last word: "Tourism is our number one industry," Young says. "Everything we can do to leverage and bring more visitors in, the better.
- "We're really, really good at hosting people."