Recent events are presenting a significant question for one of Cincinnati’s most famous events. What does the future hold for the Western and Southern Open?

The tennis tournament has been hosted in the Cincinnati area since 1899. The Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, OH has hosted the event since 1979. It’s one of the oldest tennis tournaments in the United States. The tournament was purchased by Beemok Sports and Entertainment last year. Presenting some questions about the tournament’s future in the Cincinnati area.

Two recent stories added to those concerns. News broke earlier this week that Beemok is part of the development plans. For a proposed tennis facility in the Charlotte, NC area. That facility could become the future host for the W&S Open. Beemok is proposing big plans for the W&S Open. The most notable is a proposal to expand the tournament field from 48 to 96 players. Expanding it into two-week event; on par timewise with tennis’s grand slam tournaments.

Meanwhile, Ohio’s state government could pump millions into the W&S Open’s current facility. The Ohio’s House of Representatives’ budget proposal would allocate $22.5 million for the tournament. To make improvements to the Linder Family Tennis Center. These developments present a few possibilities and questions. If the W&S Open left Cincinnati, that would present questions about the future of another tennis tournament. The Winston-Salem Open, which like Cincinnati’s W&S Open is part of the U.S. Open Series. A series of high-profile tennis tournaments leading into America’s grand slam.

The Winston-Salem Open only features a men’s field. Due to it being part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). The ATP is regarded as the top men’s tennis tour. The Western and Southern Open features men’s and women’s tournaments. As a master’s tournament for the ATP and Women’s Tennis Association.

Perhaps Beemok would be open to splitting the Western and Southern Open. They could host the women’s tournament in Mason. While the Winston-Salem Open moves to Charlotte. Canada’s National Bank Open is run in a similar manner. With action split between Toronto and Montreal.

One would hope Beemok would be more publicly straightforward about their plans for the W&S Open. This is not like situation the Oakland Athletics are facing. The A’s are considering moving to Las Vegas mainly because of their current stadium. The Oakland Coliseum, which was completed during Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency in 1966. The Lindner Family Tennis Stadium isn’t regarded as a facility that’s past it’s prime.

This could be a case of the South Carolina based group wanting to move the event closer to home. Or perhaps Beemok is simply looking for help to foot the bill for their ambitions. By getting state and local governments to join them in a private-public partnership. Through dangling the possibility of the W&S Open moving away on one end. Proposing a new tennis facility in Charlotte on the other. While looking to see who’s willing to be the highest bidder.

The Cincinnati area has proven itself as a worthy host. For one of the premier tennis events in the world. The Western and Southern Open has survived for nearly 125 years. Thanks in part to the commitment this region has shown for this event. By utilizing it as a way to showcase tennis and Greater Cincinnati on a global stage. Charlotte would likely be a good host for a tennis tournament. However, that doesn’t need to come at Greater Cincinnati’s expense.