Rarely have three letters and three numbers captured the imagination as much as they did at the 108th Open International Tennis Championships in Bavaria, the BMW Open in Munich (April 13th to 21st).
ATP 500!
When the World Professional Players Association around President Andrea Gaudenzi (50) decided at the beginning of November 2023 to upgrade the previous 250 tournament at the MTTC Iphitos from 2025, it was like a starting signal for the future. Suddenly big tennis dreams can become reality in Munich.
New Center Court! More viewers! Better marketing! More top ten players! Higher prize money! More glitz and glamour! Greater global recognition!
Davis Cup player Jan-Lennard Struff (36) has a bye in the first round in Munich, as do Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune and Taylor Fritz
Foto: Getty Images
“The idea of trying to climb arose five years ago, and at some point it became a vision,” says Iphitos chairman Dr. Fabian Tross (48), who led the negotiations about options and conditions with the ATP and the political committees. “We have now prevailed against ten other applicants and are the only upgrade in Europe. We have secured a top event for ourselves, the city and the country for decades to come. We are ready to take the step to the next level.”
Dr. Fabian Tross (48), first chairman of MTTC Iphitos, is leading his club and the BMW Open into the 500cc era. The lawyer began his club career at the age of 8 as a ball child
Photo: Volker Hoffmann
ATP 500 in Munich!
BILD was also inspired and designed a new stadium for the Iphitos site with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
The specifications for the Midjourney program corresponded to the actual plans: modern arena, variable roof, 7,500 seats, close to the English Garden.
Even if the future Munich tennis temple, which is scheduled to stand in 2027, will probably not look exactly like this, the AI study (see above) still gives an idea of the possible new dimension.
Brilliant tennis moment against Zverev of all people
Source: ATP30.03.2024
ATP 500 in Munich!
“This is a milestone for German tennis,” says Helmut Schmidbauer (71), President of the Bavarian Tennis Association (BTV) and Vice of the German Tennis Association (DTB). “We will have a third 500 tournament in the future with Hamburg and Halle. This underlines our international standing. It helps in promoting young talent and training future top players because more great role models play with us throughout the year.”
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Architectural planning and approval procedures are currently underway for the renovation of the MTTC Iphitos club facility (around 1,500 members, main holder of the ATP license). And it’s two-pronged.
On the one hand for the final version, on the other hand for the interim solution during the construction phase.
The new center court is to be built south of the current main stadium and the hall in the rear part of the area. It is possible that it will be a smaller version, which can be expanded with additional stands during the tournament week. The total capacity is expected to grow to 70,000 to 80,000 viewers per week. So far there are around 45,000.
The club grounds of the MTTC Iphitos in Munich at the English Garden, where the BMW Open will be played as an ATP 500 tournament from 2025. At the top right is the old center court for around 4,000 spectators. At the top left, in the rear part of the area, the new center court for 7,500 fans is to be built. During the construction phase, there is an interim solution with tubular steel stands for around 6,000 seats in front of the clubhouse (front right)
Foto: SvenSimon
Worldwide TV marketing from 2025
ATP 500 in Munich!
One thing is certain: it is a multi-million project.
“Without our long-standing partners, especially BMW and Allianz, and without the support from politicians across party lines, it would not be possible to take this step,” says Tross. “Not forgetting our members. If they had not agreed, the plans would have been null and void. But everyone got involved right from the start.”
However, the investments will be worth it.
By jumping to the 500 level, the BMW Open is also moving into the ATP’s central global TV marketing.
This means a significant increase in income, which makes it possible, for example, to increase the prize money from 651,865 euros this year to around 2.5 million euros in the future. In addition, the new center court can be used and marketed all year round, for example via a “naming right” for a sponsor.
The Bavarian Prime Minister Dr. Markus Söder (57) on the BILD stage a year ago when he pledged the Free State’s support for the construction of the new tennis stadium in Munich
Foto: Getty Images for BWM
ATP 500 in Munich!
Exactly a year ago, Prime Minister and tennis fan Dr. Markus Söder (CSU) publicly offered financial help for the first time live on the VIP tent stage at the “Serve at BILD”: “Big plans also need big support! The Free State is ready to help. If the city of Munich also joins in, we will get it done. We have many big sports in Munich – but tennis can still be one more. And that requires a bigger stadium!”
“That was a decisive factor in the ATP winning the contract,” says Tross: “It’s an incredible feeling that our dream is now really coming true.”
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2024-04-14 23:10:00
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