MASON — Officials at the Mason Landen Kings Chamber of Commerce plan to meet todaywith Warren County's hotel and restaurant leaders to seek sponsors for the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati.

        Chamber president John Harris said he and board chairwoman Martha Hines will meet with the chamber members to “see what we can do as a business community to help generate more interest and the possibility of sponsorships” of the professional tennis tournament.

        “What I want to do is find out from my members what their capabilities are. I don't know whether the Marriott has an opportunity to take one of the special boxes, stuff like that,” Mr. Harris said. “Will any of them be a title sponsor? No. But they may have customers who may have an interest in becoming a title sponsor.”

        Mr. Harris said today's meeting in Deerfield Township is part of trying to devise a strategy “on ways to help financially or help find resources for the event.”

        Mr. Harris has set a 60-day deadline to generate sponsorship of the tournament, Aug. 1-11, because commitments need to be secured soon. Tennis Masters Series officials said they did not request this, nor do they know details of today's meeting.

        “I think what they're trying to do is to find a way to give us financial support,” said Paul Flory, director of Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati.

        Meanwhile, Mason City Manager Scot Lahrmer was tight-lipped on the city's negotiations to keep the tournament in Mason. Under one possibility Mason officials have discussed, Mason would buy the property — which includes the Bruin Golf Course — and then lease the tennis center to the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati, whose lease expires in 2005.

        Mr. Lahrmer said Mason is “very much interested in the ATP calling Mason its home,” and a decision is expected in the next few months.

        Mr. Harris sees the chamber's effort as a way to establish momentum to get “a long-term commitment from people that allows (the Tennis Masters Series) to provide this venue for many years.”

        The tennis tournament, located in Mason since 1979, is one of only 13 required events in men's tennis. The tournament drew about 170,000 people in 2000 and annually brings $23 million into the region's economy.

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