CINCINNATI — The Western & Southern Open announced today plans to build a new $25 million five-story building, dubbed the “South Building,” with groundbreaking planned immediately following the conclusion of this year’s event.

The structure will replace the current building and will more than double the interior space for fans and amenities. Overall, Center Court seating will increase to 11,750  from 11,467 . The project will be complete in time for the next year’s event, planned for August 11-19, 2018.

The player fields, which were also announced Thursday, include the 44 highest ranked players from the ATP World Tour as well as 39 of the 43 highest ranked players on the WTA. The initial field includes 14 Grand Slam winners who have captured a combined 69 Major titles. 

THE SOUTH BUILDING
The new 40,000  square foot, 104-foot-tall structure will be constructed between Center and Grandstand Courts, with different levels offering views of one or both marquee match courts.

The main feature is the split-level 2nd floor hosting a restaurant and bar, which opens up to cascading indoor, air-conditioned box seats, presumed to be the first in professional tennis. The extra-wide, 252 stadium seats sit behind glass and have access to the adjoining restaurant and bar.

The 3rd floor, above the restaurant, holds 396 new outdoor box seats and an interior space with concessions, a bar, gathering areas and restrooms. The 4th floor includes six all-inclusive suites with 126 total seats and a shared space for food and refreshments. The 5th floor offers a state-of-the-art broadcast and production center.

The project was designed by the architecture firm Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf (BDMD), based in Indianapolis. “The building is chock-full of amenities. Every square foot was designed with the intention of bringing the things that fans need – restrooms, bars, concessions and air conditioning – to these new areas. We’re especially excited about the climate-controlled box seats, truly an innovation in the sport of professional tennis,” remarked BDMD architect Greg Jacoby. Cincinnati-based Shumacher Dugan will manage construction.

Sales for all areas of the South Building will begin at the tournament in a special sales center located in the retail plaza. The tournament will launch today a special website with detailed information and renderings of each floor at ExperienceSouthBuilding.com –

For downloading images, 3D animations and renderings, visit: http://bit.ly/2017wsopen
 

PLAYER FIELD
Seven-time champion Roger Federer headlines the men’s field along with two-time titlist Andy Murray, 2013 winner Rafael Nadal, and defending champion Marin Cilic. The aforementioned are four of the seven players in the men’s field who have won at least one Grand Slam title. Murray, the current No. 1 player, Federer, Nadal and five-time finalist Novak Djokovic are the players to have held the top spot in the ATP rankings.

Defending champion Karolina Pliskova, who will become the WTA’s No. 1 player on Monday, headlines a women’s entry list that includes three players who have been ranked No. 1: Angelique Kerber, Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams. Kerber and Williams are two of seven Grand Slam winners in the women’s field.

Of the 83 total entrants announced Thursday between the men’s and women’s fields, 39 players have won a combined 58 tournament titles so far in 2017. The entry list includes eight total players who have been ranked No. 1, and 14 who have won a Grand Slam tournament. Eleven Americans are included on the Western & Southern Open entry list.

The official draw for both men’s and women’s tournaments will occur at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 11, prior to the first qualifying rounds set to take place the following day.
For full player entry list, click here.

How to purchase tickets:
WSOpen.com
Ticketmaster.com
Tickets also are available by calling the W&S offices at (513) 651-0303