The Miami Open is back but at a different location. Hard Rock Stadium, where the Miami Dolphins play or for concert goers where Jay-Z and Beyoncé seemed to be on a date — in front of 60,000 friends during their “On the Run Tour II.”
A tennis venue has become a permanent fixture at the stadium that featured gladiator like athletes involved in constant contact to a game with no contact instead powerful motion and grace of movement. It is brilliant.
The 2019 Miami Open presented by Itaú will make its debut at Hard Rock March 18-31, and fans will have the opportunity to see one of the best player fields in tennis at its new lifestyle and entertainment venue.
This year’s extraordinary lineup features 19 players who have combined to win 109 career Grand Slam singles titles including all-time record holders Roger Federer and Serena Williams. Reigning Australian Open champions, and the world’s No. 1 ranked players, Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka top one of the strongest ATP and WTA tournament draws of 2019.
The lineup is amazing however they will be returning to a tournament at a venue looking to change the way you experience tennis not just in Miami, but globally especially for one of the largest tennis tournaments outside the four Grand Slams.
Tournament Owner IMG and Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross partnered to keep the Miami Open in Miami and have worked together to build a permanent world-class tennis facility that will provide an elevated fan experience while incorporating a unique Miami look and feel. The improved amenities will allow the tournament to host a true lifestyle and entertainment event featuring the best in tennis, art, food and music.
“He had a vision; there is a reason why he is Steven Ross,” Serena Williams said. “I’m really excited we believed in him, listened to him, even though for a minute we thought he was crazy. We all can now see what he saw. It is going to be incredibly amazing.”
Amazing may be an understatement.
Crews continue to add the finishing touches in building the new home of the tennis tournament in what was a parking lot at Hard Rock Stadium. Impressively the ticket sales for the event are better than for the 2018 event.
The Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne is officially history now after politics and legal banter caused the tournament to nearly be lost in South Florida. Tennis fans will be in for redeemed tournament thanks to Ross to the rescue to the new renovated home at the cost of $550 million.
The price of admission will be worth it because of tennis being played on the field where the Dolphins play. The Miami Open will build a temporary 13,800-seat in-stadium stadium court, using the permanent seating of the 65,000-seat football venue for a court located between the 30-yard lines and a customized modular structure to create a more intimate experience.
“The court inside the stadium will be an amazing experience,” Miami Open Tournament Director James Blake said. “Not many people can say they played tennis inside a football stadium, now they will have the opportunity every year.”
The set-up allows the use of the stadium’s club level and a variety of suites. The tournament will also add 12 temporary suites for the March event. On the outside of Hard Rock’s stadium court, there will be the largest video board in tennis.
Space is the name of game for this year’s tournament. The entire grounds are massive in space and design. It has increased from 21 to 30 courts, including 18 practice courts that include over 4,300 seats, but also added in a 4,993-seat Grandstand Stadium, 3,024-seat Court 1 and 1,564-seat Court 2.
Did the trophy get renovated? You have to attend to find out.
Qualifying rounds will be March 18-19 and will determine 12 additional slots in each singles draw. The Miami Open also will award wildcards to five men and eight women. The women’s main draw begins on Tuesday, March 19, followed by the first round of the men’s main draw on Wednesday, March 20.
Tickets to the 2019 Miami Open are on sale now and available by phone at 305-943-6736 or online at http://www.miamiopen.com.
Photo/MiamiOpen/twitter
Photo/MiamiOpen/twitter
