Cincinnati’s Western & Southern Financial Group has extended its title sponsorship of the Western & Southern Open for an additional three years.
The collaboration has been recorded as the longest active naming rights agreement for a professional tennis tournament in North America, following the tournament’s 20th edition in August.
“The decades-long support from Western & Southern Financial Group has afforded us the opportunity to grow the Western & Southern Open into one of the premier events on the tennis calendar,” commented Katie Haas, COO of the Western & Southern Open.
“Our partnership with Western & Southern has been critical in allowing us to showcase Cincinnati to a global audience and we look forward to continuing this relationship for years to come.”
The 2022 competition will include digital back walls – never used at a combined ATP and WTA event in North America – tol create a wraparound effect in conjunction with the digital side walls.
Additionally, LED digital signage has been used at the tournament for the net judge box since 2018 and on the umpire’s chair since 2019.
John F. Barrett, Chairman, President and CEO of the Western & Southern Financial Group, added: “We are honored to continue our support for world-class tennis in Cincinnati. This wonderful tournament is both a living tribute to Cincinnati’s rich history and an important part of its bright future.”
In 2011, the Western & Southern Open became a single-week event, and has attracted around 1.8 million spectators.
Held yearly at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, next year’s event is to take place 13-21 August.
Moreover, through its Tennis for Charity partnership, the tournament has contributed around $11 million to the community, such as Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the UC Health Barrett Cancer Center and Tennis for City Youth.
