MIAMI OPEN’S KEY BISCAYNE FINALE HIGHLIGHTED BY GREAT CROWDS, RECORD TV AND DIGITAL COVERAGE, AND A LOOK TO THE TOURNAMENT’S FUTURE
MIAMI – The Miami Open presented by Itaú celebrated its 34th edition—and its final tournament at the Crandon Park Tennis Center—with the best in tennis, fashion, food and entertainment, highlighting all that Miami has to offer. It was a fitting send off for the event in preparation for its move to a state-of-the-art facility at Hard Rock Stadium in 2019. Highlights of the event include:
Attendance:
With great weather and amazing tennis, the tournament welcomed 303,339 guests to the Crandon Park Tennis Center, recording more than 300,000 attendees for the tenth consecutive year. Six sessions of the event sold out, including the men’s singles final between John Isner and Alexander Zverev.
TV Coverage and Ratings:
This year, the Miami Open received more than 14,000 hours of global TV coverage and was broadcast in 193 countries/territories to more than 70 million viewers worldwide.
In the US, the Miami Open aired on both Tennis Channel and the ESPN family of networks, receiving more than 125 total hours of live coverage. When combining live and taped coverage, the Miami Open was broadcast 24-hours a day over the two weeks of the event.
Digital presence:
The event’s digital footprint included bespoke content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, GIPHY, YouTube and exclusive video content, in addition to behind-the-scenes photos and videos, livestreams of special events, Snapchat filters, player GIFS and much more. The Miami Open’s social media channels generated more than 127 million impressions during the two-week event.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Fundraiser:
On Saturday, March 24th, the Miami Open dedicated its Saturday evening session to building awareness and fundraising for the victims of the February 14th mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. ATP and WTA players stood arm in arm with MSD tennis team members to show their support and raise funds for the victims, survivors and their families. During the tournament, the Miami Open created and sold bespoke #msdstrong t-shirts, raising $30,000 for the Victims’ Fund.
Numerous ATP and WTA stars, including Nick Kyrgios, Garbiñe Muguruza, John Isner, Monica Puig and Alexander Zverev participated in the on-court ceremony and spent time with the students. After his win that evening, Nick Kyrgios stopped by and spent additional time with the students, sharing tennis tips and taking photos.
Move to Hard Rock Stadium:
On Monday, March 19, Miami Open tournament director James Blake, WME and IMG Co-President Mark Shapiro, Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross and 23-time Grand Slam Champion Serena Williams broke ground on the new tennis facility at Hard Rock Stadium. The new home of the tournament will provide the best possible experience for fans, players and media alike. The new Miami Open will have 30 show and practice courts; a tennis oasis with the largest video screen of any tennis event; a sponsorship village with expanded and upgraded entertainment spaces; permanent retail facilities; improved Wi-Fi; and a state-of-the-art media center, locker rooms and fitness space for players and tennis staff.
Sponsors:
The Miami Open continues to attract premier global brands due to its international fan base, particularly in South America, as well as the celebrity appeal and television exposure. Brazilian bank and presenting sponsor Itaú headlined the list of premier tournament partners that also include Lacoste, Emirates, Peugeot, Moet Chandon, Bacardi, Stella Artois, FedEx, MasterCard, Rolex, SAP, Juan Valdez, British Virgin Islands, Advocare, Claro, Acordis, Baptist Health South Florida and HEAD/PENN.
Economic Impact:
The tournament helps book more than 13,500 hotel nights each year and generates a county-wide economic impact of $386 million, which is comparable to an effect the Super Bowl has on a city. Since its founding in 1985, the Miami Open has grown from a local tournament into an international mega event that brings the world’s best players to Miami and celebrates the city on a global stage.
Incredible Year for American Tennis:
The 2018 Miami Open saw Americans win all four titles. Sloane Stephens and John Isner won the women’s and men’s singles titles. Bob and Mike Bryan captured their fifth Miami Open doubles title, while American CoCo Vandeweghe teamed with Australian Ashleigh Barty to win the women’s doubles title.
Next year, the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium will take place March 18-31, 2019. Go to https://www.miamiopen.com/hardrockstadium for information on the venue, premier hospitality and sponsorship opportunities, and ticket information.
About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2019 Miami Open will be played March 18-31 at Hard Rock Stadium. The two-week combined event is owned and operated by IMG. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a Premier Mandatory event on the WTA calendar, and features the top men’s and women’s tennis players in the world. The tournament is widely regarded as the most glamorous on the ATP and WTA calendars because of its exotic Miami location, thriving nightlife, five-star hotels and restaurants, beautiful weather and beaches, and its celebrity appeal. For ticket information, call +1.305.442.3367 or visit www.miamiopen.com.
About Itaú
Itau is the largest Latin America privately owned bank, with approximately 94,000 employees and operations in 19 countries throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. Itaú’s relationship with sport goes back to the 1970s, when Itaú first sponsored the Itaú Tennis Cup in Brazil in 1970. Itaú has been a sponsor of the Miami Open for the last six years, and also sponsors the Rio Open, the only combined ATP/WTA event in South America. Itaú also supports the Brazilian Women’s Tennis Circuit, only female professional tournament in South America, certified by the Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), as well as the Tennis Institute Training Center, responsible for the development of young, new talent.
About IMG:
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media, operating in more than 30 countries. The company manages some of the world’s greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in sports training and league development, as well as marketing, media and licensing for brands, sports organizations and collegiate institutions. IMG is part of the Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG) network.
