Miami Open finalizes move to Hard Rock Stadium

The Miami Open and management company IMG announced on Wednesday that the tournament will relocate to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. beginning in 2019. It has been played on the island of Key Biscayne at Crandon Park Tennis Center since 1987.

IMG filed paperwork with the Miami Mayor Carlos Gimenez last month to begin the relocation process, but it hit a brief snag when Miami-Dade county commissioners refused to approve the terms. An agreement was reached this week with a unanimous vote, paving the way for the event to move from Key Biscayne to the site that is currently home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

“The Miami Open belongs in Miami,” IMG co-president Mark Shapiro stated. “We’re grateful to have amazing partners in Stephen, the Miami Dolphins organization, Mayor Gimenez, and above all the people of Miami who have been supporting the Miami Open for decades. While we’re looking forward to creating the new Miami Open experience at Hard Rock Stadium, our priority is to make the last edition of the Key Biscayne event the best it’s ever been.”

“We are extremely excited that the Miami Open, a global entertainment event, will remain in our community,” Dolphins’ owner Stephen Ross commented. “We are committed to bringing a best-in-class experience alongside IMG to all of the players, fans, and partners that will take part in this global affair. The opportunity to showcase the best tennis in the world in Hard Rock Stadium–a venue that brings together the best of culture, art and entertainment–will be an amazing experience for everyone involved.”

“The Miami Open has been a part of Miami’s culture for as long as I can remember and it’s a tournament that is very special to me and my family,” Serena Williams said. “I’ve enjoyed some of my best career moments in Miami thanks to the amazing tournament team and the supportive Miami fans. I am thrilled the Miami Open is staying in Miami, where it belongs.”

The new Miami Open will have 30 total courts for both matches and practices. A tennis plaza will feature the largest video screen of any tennis event in the world, a sponsorship village with expanded and upgraded entertainment spaces, and permanent retail facilities. The new site also promises to have improved Wi-Fi, media facilities, locker rooms, and fitness space for players and tennis staff, while sponsors will enjoy state-of-the-art hospitality options, improved activation areas, additional opportunities for brand exposure, and access to new markets north of Miami-Dade County.

A new Center Court, seating 14,000 fans, will be constructed inside Hard Rock Stadium itself. A Grandstand, two show courts, smaller match courts, and practice courts will be a short walking distance outside Hard Rock Stadium.