If you buy tickets to this year's Western & Southern Open, you will notice there are 18 types of tickets instead of four, as in previous years. CEO Andre Silva pointed out at a media luncheon some are as much as 50% cheaper.
Earlier this year, Silva took some flack from fans who noticed the price of tickets had gone up drastically. He says there was a lot of inconsistency in ticket pricing, especially in prime seating. So the tournament raised some prices but lowered others.
"When they go online to buy it now they can expect to have a bigger variety and more options and options that will fit within their budget," says Silva.
Silva says going at the beginning of the tournament will save you money and you can still see good tennis. He says last year's WTA French Open final was recreated early on at the Western and Southern Open.
The tournament runs from August 10-18.
Western & Southern also is launching Play Tennis Cincinnati. In partnership with the USTA, the tournament will hold free youth clinics. The one August 5-8 is filled with 275 kids grades 1-6. Silva says there will be more opportunities in the fall.
"It's very important not to be a tournament that happens one week of the year," he says. "It's important to kind of grow the game of tennis throughout the city and this region."