Mason's biggest annual economic engine fires up Saturday, Aug. 8, when the Cincinnati Open opens its gates at the Lindner Family Tennis Center for 16 days of world-class tennis and an expected 300,000-plus visitors to the Kings Island tourism corridor.
The tournament, which runs through Sunday, Aug. 23, has generated more than $80 million in annual economic impact, according to the City of Mason. That figure predates a $260 million campus expansion completed in 2025 that doubled the site's acreage and added the Cincinnati Open Sporting Club as a year-round community facility.
Mason's economic development office signaled the city's expectations on Saturday, Aug. 1, calling the event "The Grand Slam of the Midwest" and noting "the best players in the world are on their way to Mason."
Local businesses inside the gates
Two Mason businesses have a direct line to those 300,000 wallets. Greenwich Pita and Grill, the Mediterranean restaurant at 5220 Kings Mills Road, is one of 13 dining vendors in the Commons, the tournament's shaded outdoor dining hub. Sonder Brewing, the craft brewery at 8584 Duke Blvd. near Kings Island, operates a dedicated bar on the grounds.
Tournament-goers spend an average of seven hours a day on site. That dwell time fuels serious spending: fans bought 28,558 Dobel Tequila Ace Paloma cocktails during the 2025 tournament alone.
Tournament Director Bob Moran announced the full 2026 food-and-drink lineup, which blends local vendors with Cincinnati staples including Jeff Ruby's, Skyline Chili, LaRosa's and Graeter's Ice Cream.
Ripple effect along the corridor
The economic lift extends beyond the tournament gates. Professional players lodge in Mason during the event and are regularly spotted at local restaurants, movie theaters and golf courses along the Kings Island corridor, according to a Mason High School Chronicle feature on the 2025 tournament.
Jeff Schlaeger, a Mason High School psychologist and longtime Cincinnati Open volunteer, described the atmosphere in that September 2025 feature: "It's like we're in Europe. It's just crazy because all these people have different languages, cultures and interests, but are in Mason."
Public and private investment
The tournament's presence in Mason is backed by significant public dollars. State Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, helped secure $50 million in state funding through Substitute House Bill 2 to keep the Cincinnati Open in Ohio after owner Beemok Capital considered relocating to a proposed $400 million complex in Charlotte, North Carolina. The city of Mason committed $15 million in incentives to retain the event.
In a July 30 press release about a separate campus event, Mathews said: "When we worked to ensure the Cincinnati Open remained in Ohio, one of our requests was for year-round activation for the community and world class events."
What's next
Community Weekend on Saturday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 9, opens the campus with Kids Day activities, autograph sessions, and the inaugural Cincinnati Open 5K. Match play begins Tuesday, Aug. 11, with both singles finals on Sunday, Aug. 23. Parking is included for all ticketholders. The tournament fields 1,600 volunteers from the local community.
