Industry News

Miami Open tennis tournament set for move to NFL stadium

The Miami Open appears set to leave Key Biscayne, with an agreement having reportedly been reached to stage the tennis tournament at Hard Rock Stadium, home of NFL American football team the Miami Dolphins, from 2019.

The annual tournament, a leading event on the men’s ATP World Tour and the women’s WTA Tour, has been held at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park facility since 1987.

According to the Miami Herald newspaper, event organisers have reached an agreement with the administration of Carlos Gimenez, Mayor of Miami-Dade County, to relocate the tournament.

Organisers are said to be unable to expand the facilities at Tennis Center at Crandon Park and it is believed that a move away is required to ensure the event retains its position as one of the leading non-grand slam events in tennis.

The agreement must still be approved by Mayor Gimenez’s administration but Hard Rock Stadium is likely to be the new home of the event from 2019.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was first reported to be interested in taking the event to Hard Rock Stadium back in March. According to the Herald, Ross has proposed building a new $53m facility that would host Miami Open matches in parking lots outside the stadium, with showpiece matches to be played inside the 65,000-seat venue itself.

The 2018 Miami Open is due to take place in Key Biscayne in March. Roger Federer and Johanna Konta are the defending singles champions.