Sports

Coronavirus

As a new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) swept through the world in 2020, preparedness plans, masking policies and more public policy changed just as quickly. WVXU has covered the pandemic's impact on the Tri-State from the very beginning, when on March 3, 2020, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine barred spectators from attending the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus over concerns about the virus, even though Ohio had yet to confirm a single case of COVID-19.

Western & Southern Open Leaving Mason For New York This Year

91.7 WVXU | By Ann Thompson

Published June 16, 2020 at 3:54 PM EDT

2017 Western & Southern Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza."

The Western & Southern Open will move to New York for this year only because of the pandemic. On Wednesday the tournament announced specifics including how ticket holders can get their money back.

These stands will remain empty this year, as the tennis tournament has been moved to New York for 2020.

A statement from the tournament says the WTA Premier 5 and ATP Masters 1000 will be staged at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York August 20-28, 2020.

The thinking is that players will not have to travel as much, as they will already be in New York for the U.S. Open.

The first reports of a double-header in New York surfaced earlier this month.

Ticket holders who purchased seats directly from Western & Southern or Ticketmaster are eligible for a full refund. Also, holders of certain categories of tickets will be given an option of retaining their seats for 2021. Full details can be found at wsopen.com/2020.

Mason tournament officials say the economic impact of the Western & Southern, combined with capital improvements, was $123 million in 2018.

It was going to be held August 15-23 in Mason this year.