Miami Open Presnted By Itau To Move In 2019

The Miami Open presented by Itau will move to a new home in 2019.

IMG, an Endeavor company, announced on Wednesday that the tournament will be relocating to Hard Rock Stadium in 2019, aiming to bring an unparalleled fan experience, improved player amenities, ample parking, as well as an extended fan base to the tournament. Construction on the new tennis facilities will begin in 2018.

The Miami Open presented by Itau’s last event at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, where it has enjoyed a successful 32-year run, will begin in March. Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez will work closely to develop this reimagined event.

“The Miami Open belongs in Miami,” said WME and IMG Co-President Mark Shapiro. “We’re grateful to have amazing partners in Stephen, the Miami Dolphins organisation, Mayor Gimenez and above all the people of Miami who have been supporting the Miami Open for decades. While we’re looking forward to creating the new Miami Open experience at Hard Rock Stadium, our priority is to make the last edition of the Key Biscayne event the best it’s ever been.”

Ross is also happy to keep the tournament in South Florida.

“We are extremely excited that the Miami Open, a global entertainment event, will remain in our community,” Ross said. “We are committed to bringing a best-in-class experience alongside IMG to all of the players, fans and partners that will take part in this global affair. The opportunity to showcase the best tennis in the world in Hard Rock Stadium, a venue that brings together the best of culture, art and entertainment, will be an amazing experience for everyone involved.”

The move to Hard Rock Stadium will allow the Miami Open presented by Itau the freedom and flexibility to grow and innovate the event with improved infrastructure, upgraded amenities, expanded space and parking. The event will have 30 show and practice courts; a tennis oasis with the largest video screen of any tennis event; a sponsorship village with expanded and upgraded entertainment spaces; permanent retail facilities; improved Wi-Fi, media facilities, locker rooms and fitness space for players and tennis staff. The tournament’s sponsors will enjoy state-of-the-art hospitality options, improved activation areas, additional opportunities for brand exposure and access to new markets north of Miami-Dade County.

The centerpiece of the move will be a new Centre Court, which will showcase a 14,000-seat stadium within Hard Rock Stadium. Ross has invested more than $500 million into Hard Rock Stadium over the years, which boasts a state-of-the-art shade canopy, four giant high-definition video boards, new seats closer to the action, concourses, restrooms and retail outlets throughout the entire facility, and new premium spaces that raise the caliber for luxury within a sports facility.

The 2018 Miami Open presented by Itau, the second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event of the season, will be played from 19 March-1 April. Roger Federer is the defending champion.