Dallas Open, Qatar Open and BMW Open Munich to become ATP 500 tournaments, fears of Newport, Atlanta and Lyon axe confirmed

ATP
Wednesday, 08 November 2023 at 23:00
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The ATP has announced several reforms in its tournaments: Three will be elevated to ATP 500 status starting in 2025, and the duration of several Masters 1000 events will be extended. This is the latest initiative from ATP aimed at enhancing the sports calendar and the premium product, in line with the OneVision strategy.

The bid to improve the Dallas Open was initiated by GF Sports & Entertainment and is part of a relocation effort, with the new venue to be announced soon. The city has a rich history as the host of major sporting events, such as the NBA All-Star Game, the Super Bowl, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Doha's Qatar ExxonMobil Open, an ATP 250 event, has been named Tournament of the Year five times, as voted by the players. It is renowned for its world-class quality standards and consistently attracts a strong field of competitors in its category. The BMW Open in Munich is poised for a large-scale facility renovation as part of this modernization plan. Munich's bid was a collaborative effort between Iphitos (owner of the ATP 250 event in Munich) and Champ AG (owner of the ATP 250 event in Lyon).

As reported by the ATP, the total prize money in Dallas, Qatar, and Munich will significantly increase, with each tournament offering approximately $2.8 million in prize money from 2025. This will contribute to the expansion of the Bonus Pool for the ATP 500 category. In total, these three promotions will mean an additional approximately $51.7 million for players over a five-year period within the ATP 500 category. However, the calendar changes will also result in the retirement of the ATP 250 tournaments in Atlanta, Lyon, and Newport:

"OneVision is all about raising the bar for tennis, and unlocking new investment in the game," ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said on Wednesday.

"We're thrilled to have our Dallas, Doha and Munich events step up to ATP 500 status - delivering improved standards for players and most importantly an enhanced product for our fans."

These advancements will expand the ATP 500 category from 13 to 16 tournaments throughout the season. These changes will also coincide with improvements in the ATP Masters 1000 category, as seven out of the nine tournaments will take place within a 12-day span starting from 2025.

These promotions are the outcome of a competitive bidding process in collaboration with Deloitte's Sports Business Group. The complete ATP Tour schedule for 2025 will be announced in the coming months.

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