In a time featuring topsy turvy developments in and beyond sports. This week brought news that at least one constant will remain. The Western and Southern Open will stay in the Cincinnati area.

Tournament owners Beemok Capital announced that news this week. Through a video featuring this year’s champions Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic. This concludes months of concern about the W&S Open’s future in Cincinnati. Earlier this year, Beemok and Charlotte area officials proposed plans for a tennis complex in the Charlotte area. One that could’ve lured the W&S Open away from Cincinnati.

The proposed complex prompted a back and forth between Beemok Capital, Charlotte and Cincinnati’s metro areas. Ohio and North Carolina’s governments also got involved. As state and local governments engaged in a bloodless bidding war for the tournament. Beemok- who purchased the W&S Open last year- played coy through this process. While seeking the highest bidder to help with their big ambitions for the tournament.

This prompted a robust response from the Cincinnati area. Fans showed up in droves for the W&S Open last August. With many of those fans expressing their hope that the tournament stays in greater Cincinnati. Several area businesses are stepping up as sponsors. Pumping $10 million into sponsoring next year’s tournament. A corporate naming rights bonanza also looms for the event; known internationally as the Cincinnati Masters. Western and Southern will soon cede the tournament’s naming rights after a 22-year stint.

Meanwhile, the public sector is pumping money into the event. Pledging to allocate at least $130 million to upgrade Mason, OH’s Lindner Family Tennis Center. Where the tournament has been held since 1979. According to a report from WLWT-TV, Ohio will allocate $50 million for facility upgrades. Warren County is also allocating $50 million, the city of Mason will chip in $30 million.

Now tournament organizers can shift to another major goal. Organizers are planning to expand the W&S Open into a two-week event. Putting it on par lengthwise with tennis’ gland slam tournaments. Providing more opportunities for fans to attend the event. To see more players compete in one of the top U.S Open tune-up tournaments.

The W&S Open leaving Cincinnati is an idea that seemed impractical to me. For starters, it wouldn’t make logistical sense for American tennis. The south already has many high-profile tennis tournaments. Several college conferences have their tournaments in the south. At the professional ranks, there’s the Miami Open. Along with the U.S. Open Series’ Atlanta Open and Winston Salem Open. If the W&S Open left Cincinnati, it would’ve left Cleveland’s Tennis in the Land as the only Midwestern event in the U.S. Open Series.

If tennis’ stewards want to grow and maintain the game’s popularity in America. Having no major tournaments in the Midwest wouldn’t help. There were also challenges Charlotte faced in trying to lure the W&S Open away. Charlotte’s proposed tennis complex is still in the developmental stage. The W&S Open staying in Cincinnati likely marks the end for that project.

Cincinnati also has tradition on its side when it comes to keeping the W&S Open. Excluding 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic affected tournament. Which was ultimately played in New York shortly before the U.S. Open. The W&S Open has been in the Cincinnati area since its inaugural edition in 1899. It’s American tennis’ oldest event still held in its original home region. 

Cincinnati has spent nearly 125 years building the W&S Open into a world class event. One that attracts grand slam winners and rising stars. The prestigious reputation Cincinnati has in tennis would be hard to duplicate in Charlotte. The tournament holds ATP and WTA Masters 1000 status. There was no guarantee the event would’ve kept that status in Charlotte.

Nevertheless, one need only look at major college sports. To see how traditions and logistical sensibility can be ignored. For the sake of attracting a more lucrative deal. While tennis players are more accustomed to globe-trotting for events. Big Ten Conference teams will be racking up their frequent flyer miles next year. As the conference expands into an 18-team coast-to-coast behemoth. Bringing UCLA, Southern California, Oregon and Washington into the primarily midwestern conference.

Ultimately, common sense won in this situation. Beemok will have less hoops to jump through managing this tournament. By keeping the W&S Open in the Cincinnati area. Instead of navigating a messy move to Charlotte and building a new complex. Upgrading the Lindner Family Tennis Center will Beemok’s biggest upcoming challenge. When it comes to managing a major tennis tournament. History has shown that the Cincinnati area is a good partner to have.