Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1541144
28 B M & T ••• November/December 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com CINCINNATI OPEN: PERFORMANCE WITHOUT PRETENSE The Cincinnati Open amplifies the city's international profile and demonstrates its capacity to host global-level events. Held every August at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, it is the only combined ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tourna- ment played in the same week in the United States. Over nine days, more than 200,000 fans attend, while media outlets beam cover- age worldwide. There are 31 courts. On-site housing. Built-in media bays. Sponsor zones. The main stadium seats 11,400 and the secondary courts hold nearly 3,000. The venue is designed for athletes at the highest level. It includes 31 courts, complete training facilities, sports medicine suites, and on-site accommodations. Players do not commute across town, they prepare, com- pete, and recover within a single campus. That infrastructure allows for effortless scheduling of hundreds of matches while protecting player health. Spectators experience the same attention to detail. Center Court seats 11,400 with clear views from all levels. Champions Court adds 2,800 seats with shaded sections and elevated concessions. Around the property, fan villages mix Ohio flavors with interna- tional sponsors, from microbreweries and food trucks to luxury suites and sponsor acti- vations. Corporate chalets allow companies to host clients in close proximity to the action. The atmosphere is remarkable. Crowds buzz with anticipation as stars like Iga wi tek and Carlos Alcaraz step onto the court. Music, live entertainment, and curated fan zones extend the experience beyond tennis. For many, the Open feels like a festival, part sport, part social showcase. Celebrity guests are common, corporate groups host networking sessions on-site, and the event injects an estimated $80 million into the regional economy each year. For planners, the Cincinnati Open is proof of execution at the highest level. The city already manages an event that attracts international athletes, a global audience, and demanding sponsors. That level of delivery translates directly into confidence for organizations considering Cincinnati for conventions. MUSIC HALL & BLACK MUSIC WALK OF FAME At Cincinnati Music Hall, you don't just enter a building, you enter an era. This 1878 landmark in Over-the-Rhine houses Springer Auditorium and large-scale ball- rooms, making it suitable for both public performances and private events. Across the walkway lies the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame. I stopped there to take it in. Names like Bootsy Collins, James Brown, The Isley Brothers, Dottie Peoples, and Randy Crawford are embedded into the walkway. Crawford, a gospel and soul singer who grew up in Cincinnati, was one of the highlights. I thought about how planners could program receptions here: a private dinner after a Music Hall show, or a walk through history tied to live perform- ance. MITA'S: BEYOND THE FLAVOR Dinner at Mita's was unforgettable. I sat at the end of a private table in Mita's in the heart of downtown. We were served small portions from across the menu, which read like a passport of Latin America. Private dining rooms allow patrons to host smaller group dinners framed by these murals and vibrant wall paint, and exciting latino decor. The shrimp ceviche hit with a bright, cold citrus. The drinks? Balanced. I had a hibiscus rum cocktail that stayed with me all evening. Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame