IMG Says It Might Be Forced To Sell Miami

Written by: Staff on 26th March 2014

IMG Says It Might Be Forced To Sell Miami |

Brett Connors photography

IMG, owners of the Sony Open in Miami, have admitted they might be forced to sell the event to concerns in China, the Middle East or India if they are continuously prevented in their efforts to upgrade the Crandon Park site on Key Biscayne.

For many years a game of one-upmanship has been played between the Miami event and the preceding BNP Paribas Open at California’s Indian Wells which has grown in both size and prestige thanks to the financial input of Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison, the billionaire who purchased the event in 2009.

The Miami event, has not enjoyed a similar story and according to the Miami Herald newspaper, plans for a $30 million renovation (approved by 72% of voters in a 2012 referendum) have been stalled by the self-described Crandon Park protector Bruce Matheson.

He has sued to prevent construction of two new permanent courts and other improvements. His suit was dismissed but he plans to appeal, and the tournament has countersued.

There are plans to rebuild the grandstand court, refurbish the clubhouse, plant shade trees, add hospitality areas, enlarge the pro shop and improve drainage have been completed, but Matheson has opposed them.

“We want to make it a true tennis center in a park rather than tennis courts in a parking lot,” Barrett said. “Unfortunately, Bruce is an obstructionist. We’d like to see the park utilized more by the public. Everything he does restricts its use.”

Consequently there have been no significant upgrades to the tournament’s facilities since its’ Stadium Court opened 20 years ago.

This year the Indian Wells Tennis Garden unveiled 8,000-seat Stadium 2 this year adjacent to its 16,100-seat main court. There are unsubstantiated rumors then Californian tournament is being viewed by the United States Tennis Association as a site of the U.S. Open once every five years.

Barratt did not dodge any difficult questions when he admitted IMG might be tempted to sell up and told the Miami Herald: “We want to stay in South Florida but we don’t want to run a second-class or third-tier event. The option of going to the highest bidder — such as China, the Middle East or India, where money is growing on trees — is always an appealing option to a corporation.

“Indian Wells has the best facility but we have the best fans,” Barrett said. “We have a city the players adore.”

Butch Buchholz was the visionary who led the process that made Miami one of the world’s foremost tennis tournaments. But now he believes the event has been overtaken in terms of prestige by Indian Wells and maintains an upgrade is necessary.

Buchholz sold the tournament to IMG for a reported $30 million in 1999 but remained involved as the tournament chairman. He finally stood down from all responsibility in 2010 but keep a very keen eye on the event he first founded as the Lipton International Players Championships at the Rod Laver Resort in Delray Beach in 1985.

The 73 year-old who still lives in South Florida at the at the Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club in Boca Raton said: “The tournament desperately needs an upgrade. It’s not winning the comparison game.”

Story via Bob Larsons tennis news

Topics: 10sballs, BCP, BNP Paribas Open, Brett Connors Photography, IMG, Indian Wells, Miami, Sony Open, Tennis, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

March 24, 2014 at 8:06 am

IMG Says It Might Be Forced To Sell Miami – http://t.co/N0L3yvXb6H #IMG #Tennis #Maimi
lawanda50 says:

March 24, 2014 at 8:06 am

RT @10sBalls_com: IMG Says It Might Be Forced To Sell Miami – http://t.co/N0L3yvXb6H #IMG #Tennis #Maimi
ARhyneMoment says:

March 24, 2014 at 8:07 am

RT @10sBalls_com: IMG Says It Might Be Forced To Sell Miami – http://t.co/N0L3yvXb6H #IMG #Tennis #Maimi
bgtennisnation says:

March 24, 2014 at 8:13 am

RT @10sBalls_com: IMG Says It Might Be Forced To Sell Miami – http://t.co/N0L3yvXb6H #IMG #Tennis #Maimi
sirharper says:

March 24, 2014 at 8:14 am

RT @10sBalls_com: IMG Says It Might Be Forced To Sell Miami – http://t.co/N0L3yvXb6H #IMG #Tennis #Maimi
RDanielConte says:

March 24, 2014 at 8:39 am

RT @10sBalls_com: IMG Says It Might Be Forced To Sell Miami – http://t.co/N0L3yvXb6H #IMG #Tennis #Maimi
smgraff says:

March 24, 2014 at 10:54 am

RT @JuanG_Arango: IMG Says It Might Be Forced To Sell Miami
http://t.co/h7WN83gfDi #Tennis
Wilson10sCamps says:

March 25, 2014 at 8:43 am

RT @USTAColorado: With the future of @SonyOpenTennis is in limbo, will this become Asia’s chance to host the Fifth Slam?
http://t.co/7bsI8…