BY KYM LIEBLER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON -- Starting today, the Great American Insurance ATP Championship will bring the world's tennis elite to town, and serve up millions of dollars in local spending.
The 302-room Cincinnati Marriott Northeast, on Mason-Montgomery Road in Mason, is sold out through Aug. 16. Many of the rooms are reserved for the 56 top-ranked tennis players in the tournament. Other Mason hotels are filling up quickly.
"Traditionally, we're sold out every day during the tournament," said Kent Bruggeman, Marriott's general manager. "This year's no different."
The tournament begins tonight with the ATP Seniors competition and ends Aug. 16 when the top two players face off. It is expected to generate $20 million in local spending, said Dan Lincoln, vice president of tourism for the Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau.
He said the ATP tournament is comparable to the Coors Light Festival, which generated $20 million in local spending over three days. The difference between the events is that the ATP tournament draws fewer out-of-towners, but lasts 11 days. The music festival, on the other hand, brings in more tourists but lasts one weekend. In 1997, 40 percent of the 169,000 people who attended the ATP tournament came from outside Greater Cincinnati, Mr. Lincoln said. He said tourists stay in hotels two or three nights and check out other area attractions, such as the Cincinnati Zoo or Paramount's Kings Island.
Even the tennis players who flew in from other countries plan to dabble in activities other than tennis.
Australian senior player Ken Rosewall, who holds eight Grand Slam singles titles, said he and fellow players intend to play a round or two at the Golf Center after their competition wraps up Saturday.
But it was tennis talk that dominated Wednesday as Mr. Rosewall and fellow senior competitors Ross Case of California and Jaime Fillol of Chile compared tennis rackets inside the Marriott's lobby.
"It's one of the most popular events. It's a marvelous facility," Mr. Rosewall said. "Cincinnati has always been a great tennis town."
Judging from the auspicious list of the eight other cities that host the Mercedes Super Nine, Cincinnati is in good company.
The Mercedes Super Nine refers to the most prestigious tournaments in the world on the ATP Tour. Other host cities are Miami, Palm Springs, Montreal, Paris, Rome, Monte Carlo, Hamburg and Stuttgart, Germany. Most of the spectators who stay overnight stay for three sessions, said Elaine Bruening, associate tournament director.
"The economic impact not only takes into account the ATP admissions, but the gas they buy, the food they eat, the rain jackets and umbrellas they might have to buy," said Robyn Lane, executive director of the Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The 1993 ATP tournament generated $13.8 million in sales for Greater Cincinnati businesses, according to an economic impact study done by the Xavier Center for Economic Research. Mr. Lincoln said the $20 million predicted this year is adjusted for inflation and the increased attendance at the ATP tournament.
