One of Cincinnati’s premiere sporting events won’t take place in Cincinnati this year. While the Cincinnati Reds’ spring training facility is temporarily closing. That’s coming up in this week’s Cincy Sports Journal Weekly Review.

2020 Western & Southern Open moving to New York

Cincinnati’s most high-profile annual international sporting event wont take place in Cincinnati this year. Instead, this year’s Western and Southern Open will be held in New York. At the USTA Billy Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. Home to the US Open, traditionally tennis’ last of the grand slam tournaments annually. Along with a different location, the W&S Open is being moved from August 15-23 to August 19-28.

The Western and Southern Open’s roots stretch back to 1899. It’s America’s oldest tennis tournament still held in it’s original metro area. Held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center since 1979. The event is one of the main tune-up tournaments for the US Open. Which is part of the reason why the event is moving to New York this year.

This is one of the latest COVID-19 related shakeups to the tennis calendar. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the cancellation of Wimbledon. Along with the French Open being moved to September. That tournament was due to be held in late May and early June. While the Winston-Salem Open is being cancelled; to make room for the Western & Southern Open’s new date and location.

Having the W&S Open in New York cuts down on some logistical challenges for players. While still having a tournament for players to prepare for the US Open. The US Open will be one of two grand slam tournaments to go forward as originally scheduled. The Australian Open was held as usual back in January.

Cincinnati Reds’ Spring Training facility temporarily closing

All Major League Baseball Spring Training facilities are temporarily closing. Due to surges of COVID-19 cases in Arizona and Florida; where MLB team’s spring training facilities are. Some teams were holding practices at these locations in recent weeks. Teams will now shift their spring/summer training camps to their home cities. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale; 40 MLB players and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week. Similar outbreaks have been reported for the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning and Clemson Football. No Cincinnati Reds players have reportedly tested positive.

This is happening while MLB owners and players continue negotiations over a 2020 season. The MLB Players Association delayed their vote on the owners latest proposal. MLBPA was originally set to vote on Sunday; no new date for the vote has been announced. According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, the latest proposal features a 60 game regular season. With fully prorated salaries and an expanded 16 team postseason.

In other Reds news, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum re-opened this past weekend. Located next to Great American Ball Park; the complex joined the Cincinnati Art Museum among local museum’s that re-opened this past weekend. Reds Hall of Fame Executive Director Rick Walls told WKRC-TV that the museum will be open at 30% capacity. With social distancing guidelines to follow and sanitation stations.