By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MASON - Tens of thousands of tennis fans will pour into this Warren County community starting today for the chance to see the world's top 50 male tennis players compete.

With the influx of guests, this prestigious event, one of only nine masters-level ATP Tour tournaments worldwide, also brings with it a much-welcomed boost to the regional economy.

"They go to see events, but they're not in that stadium or arena all day long," said Margaret Drexel, marketing director of the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "They have to hit other things when they are here, like restaurants."

An economic study showed that the tournament generates between $23 million and $24 million for the Greater Cincinnati economy. About half stays in Warren County, Drexel said.

The county economy gets another jump two weeks later after the event ends with the Kroger Classic golf tournament, which runs Sept. 1-7 at the Tournament Players Club at River's Bend.

It's a key time for hotels such as Cincinnati Marriott Northeast in Mason. The Mason hotel, where players stay for both events, also gets reservations from fans who want to stay close to the celebrities.

"I'd say it's our busiest season," said general manager Carmine DiGiacomo. "Weekends during the summer, we're very, very busy with all the attractions. ... But we'll be completely full the next two weekends."

The masters tournament draws more than 170,000 people each year and about half of them come from outside Greater Cincinnati, Drexel said. Another 35 million people worldwide watch the event on television.

Another 100,000 golf fans will attend the weeklong golf tournament, which raises money for charities such as the Kroger Scholarship Fund.

"It's a substantial economic shot in the arm for business in the Greater Cincinnati area," Mason City Manager Scot Lahrmer said.

Bill Mitchell of Mariemont has attended the tennis masters several times and plans to attend the golf tournament this year.

"It's interesting to see all the (tennis) tour pros that many people have watched on television for 10, 15, 20 years," said Mitchell. "From a spectator's perspective, you can get up to the action."

Single-day ticket sales are up compared to last year, though series tickets are slightly down, tennis tournament director Bruce Flory said this week.

He declined to give specific numbers, saying the tournament sees a lot of walk-up sales in the final days.

"Its incremental dollars that wouldn't have been spent otherwise," he said. "It's extra dollars from people that have come out of town and into the area."

The tournament's value to Tristate tourism and development was at the heart of a push to keep the tournament here last year.

When the 2002 event started, tournament organizers Bruce and Paul Flory were still trying to negotiate the purchase or long-term lease of the center, then called the ATP Tennis Center.

They were only a few million short of the $16.5 million Carl Lindner's American Financial Group wanted for the center, which spans 90 acres, has three stadiums and seven other courts.

The deal was finalized Dec. 31 with financial help from the city of Mason, Deerfield Township, and Warren County and its Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"It's great that we can just concentrate on the sport," Bruce Flory said.

"I think in anything, when you start getting into the business of sports, it gets away form the sport itself. It's only 11 days a year we have it here."

If you go

What: Western & Southern Financial Group Masters

Where: Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason

Schedule: Seniors tournament Aug. 7-9; qualifier Aug. 9-10; main draw Aug.11-17

Tickets: 651-0303

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com