| Lindner Family Tennis Center | |
|---|---|
| Location | Cincinnati, Mason Ohio USA |
| Broke ground | 1979 |
| Opened | 1979 1981 - Center Court 1995 - Grandstand Court (Court 2) 1997 - Court 3 |
| Renovated | Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf (2009-2010, 11 months) |
| Expanded | Continuously since 1979 |
| Owner | Tennis for Charity, Inc. |
| Operator | Cincinnati Tennis, LLC |
| Surface | Hard, Outdoors |
| Construction cost | Estimated at $35 million (Latest renovation, 2009-2010, was $10 million) |
| Architect | Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf (1981, 1995, 1997, 2010) |
| Main contractors | Vector Construction of Northern Kentucky |
| Capacity | 11,435 (Center Court) 5,000 (Grandstand Court) 4,000 (Court #3) 2,000 (Court #9) |
| Tenants | |
| Cincinnati Masters (Men's & Women's Tennis) (1899-present) |
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The Lindner Family Tennis Center, in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio, is the home for the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters & Women's Open. The tournaments are run by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the Tennis Center is owned by Tennis for Charity, Inc. The grounds include three permanent tennis stadia, distinguishing the Center as the only world tennis venue, apart from the four Grand Slam venues, with more than two permanent stadia. Center Court (Court #1), built in 1981 and expanded many times since, has a capacity of 11,400. Grandstand Court (Court #2), built in 1995, has a capacity of 5,000. Court #3 (Stadium 3), built in 1997, has a capacity of 2,000. Browning, Day, Mullins & Dierdorf of Indianapolis has been the architectural firm of record for the Center since its conception.
In 2009, the USTA, in partnership with Tennis for Charity, announced the first phase of a multi-stage expansion project for the Center. The expansion plans are geared toward accommodating the needs of the now concurrent men's and women's tournaments, the increasing spectating demand, the increasing television and media coverage, and the needs of twice the world-class athletes. The first phase was a $10 million facelift to Center Court in a new "West Building", later named Paul Flory Player Center, in honor of the 36-year patriarch of the tournament. The new 52,000 square feet (4,800 m2) Player Center, which opened in time for the Summer 2010 tournaments, added space not only for players, but for media and fans as well. It is approximately twice as high as the previous West Building, rising 85 feet (26 m) above ground level and 97 feet (30 m) above the court level. A canopy extends over the west stands providing more covered seating. Total Center Court seating capacity was raised from 10,500 to 11,400 after the renovation.
The second phase, announced in 2010, includes plans to expand the grounds by more than 40% and add six new courts. The largest of those will seat 4,000 and will serve as the third television court (not to be confused with 2,000-seat stadium, currently Court #3). Another new court will have seating for 2,500. Also included are a new front entrance, entry plaza and ticket office as well as expanded food court and exhibit areas. Plans call for the project to be completed by the August 2011 tournaments.
The venue also has hosted the AVP Cincinnati professional sand volleyball tournament, special events such as concerts and Hospice of Cincinnati's annual fundraising event, and numerous national and regional college and high school tennis tournaments.
