W&S Tennis Tournament to possibly move to Charolette

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

From an article posted 3 weeks ago on WCPO:

"Beemok has proposed a $260 million expansion that includes not only a larger stadium complex, but also public amenities like a pickleball center and facilities to host concerts, NCAA tennis tournaments and other events year-round."

If this ends up being true, I think we can 100% kiss Timberwolf goodbye. I think the best option would be for KI to work with the city as well as the stadium owners to maybe develop some sort of easy accessway between the stadium complex and the park so that people attending events at the tennis complex can visit the park as well without fighting traffic on KI drive/I-71.

Link to article. It's actually a good interesting read: https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/more-costly-than-previously-announced-but-still-reasonable-inside-the-deal-that-kept-w-s-open-in-mason

[Imperial79]

I can see them building a pedestrian bridge across the road, to the Kings Island parking lot, but I doubt it would go all the way to Timberwolf. Nice to see big things are happening in Mason! 

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

1 hour ago, Imperial79 said:

I can see them building a pedestrian bridge across the road, to the Kings Island parking lot, but I doubt it would go all the way to Timberwolf. Nice to see big things are happening in Mason! 

I never said it would go all the way to Timberwolf. An idea I have is to build the pedestrian walkway overtop the current sidewalks in the center that connects the drop off area to the front gate and have it connect from the area right in front of the metal detectors and would end in front of the tennis complex. Ik its a long walk, but I think what they could do is add those straight escelator things that are in airports (Ik Universal has them in the walkway between parking and CityWalk. Unfortunately this would probably mean the end of the current KI marquee sign, but they could design a better marquee sign that would go on top of the walkway.

EDIT: Here's a mockup I came up with for this idea. 

 

[Imperial79]

On 12/5/2023 at 7:24 PM, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

I never said it would go all the way to Timberwolf. An idea I have is to build the pedestrian walkway overtop the current sidewalks in the center that connects the drop off area to the front gate and have it connect from the area right in front of the metal detectors and would end in front of the tennis complex. Ik its a long walk, but I think what they could do is add those straight escelator things that are in airports (Ik Universal has them in the walkway between parking and CityWalk. Unfortunately this would probably mean the end of the current KI marquee sign, but they could design a better marquee sign that would go on top of the walkway.

EDIT: Here's a mockup I came up with for this idea. 

 

Yeah, this could work, Cedar Fair/SF should capitalize on this and look into making it happen imo. What would they do with Timberwolf then? I can see a coaster going there and a new theme/name for Action Zone also, 

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

13 minutes ago, Imperial79 said:

Yeah, this could work, Cedar Fair/SF should capitalize on this and look into making this happen imo. What would they do with Timberwolf then? I can see a coaster going there and a new theme/name for Action Zone also, 

I could see a coaster going there. However, since Six Flags IP's are now in the picture with the merger, I could very well see one of those Justice League dark rides going there along with an Action Zone DC Universe retheme. 

[Imperial79]

9 minutes ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

I could see a coaster going there. However, since Six Flags IP's are now in the picture with the merger, I could very well see one of those Justice League dark rides going there along with an Action Zone DC Universe retheme. 

I don't know about it going all the way to the front like that, have it end right before the preferred parking area begins, so we keep the green space on both sides while guests are walking up to the gate would be nice. 

[disco2000]

Seating upgrades:

https://www.fox19.com/2023/12/13/western-southern-open-announces-seating-upgrades/?fbclid=IwAR16n_JhT7hYsPX7-En3kjc9VjjPHM4IHvRIxPLtOTCZSj0LC0yoOeAhCt8

 

[rlentless]

W&S Open renamed back to original "Cincinnati Open".

https://local12.com/news/local/big-change-comes-to-western-southern-open-cincinnati-open-mason-tennis-tournament-beemok-capital-sports-hisotry-historic-name-linder-center#

[nyrachel]

On 10/11/2023 at 4:05 AM, FUN&ONLY! said:

While I do not know how much the tournament affects park attendance, Kings Island makes a point of keeping the park open during the tournament even if the park can barely be staffed. Even if people do not visit the park while in town for the tournament, the rollercoasters running in the background of the tennis facility is free adverting and lets visitors become aware of the park (if they were not already) so that they may make future plans to visit the park. I could possibly see a big 2025 addition to coincide with the expanded tennis tournament and increase in visitors, but it is probably too late to carefully plan out a big new rollercoaster for 2025 (assuming one is not planned already). Instead, maybe Kings Island will take advantage of the opportunity and advertise a massive new 2026 addition (which seems more likely) during the 2025 tournament to entice visitors to come back the following year.

It's interesting to note Kings Island's strategic decision to keep the park open during the tennis tournament, even with limited staffing. The idea of having rollercoasters as a backdrop to the tennis facility provides free advertising and increases awareness of the park for potential future visits. While a significant rollercoaster addition for 2025 might be logistically challenging at this point, leveraging the increased tournament visitors could be a smart move. Advertising a massive new addition for 2026 during the 2025 tournament seems like a plausible strategy, enticing visitors to plan return trips the following year. It reflects a forward-thinking approach to capitalize on the tournament's potential impact on park attendance.