Thinking way ahead--Cincy 2012

[CourtlyLove]

Hello all,

I graduate college this May and since I've been obsessed with watching tennis since the beginning of this year I want to go on some sort of trip with my girlfriend next August. I live in the Chicago suburbs so obviously Cincy is the closest big tournament to me. My girlfriend did her undergrad in Ohio so she's interested in going and checking out her old campus while we're there; we'd probably try to catch a Reds game as well.

1) Do you think next year is a bad year to go to Cincy? I'm a little concerned about the schedule congestion, especially with the Olympics involved. I assume Cincy would be less affected than Canada in this respect, though. I would just be bummed if I missed a bunch of the top guys.

2) What are the best days to go? This will be my first time ever seeing top-level tennis, so I'm more concerned with seeing a lot, rather than seeing the later rounds. Tuesday and Wednesday a good plan? I know for Masters events the top players would have byes on the Monday. My gut is to do Tuesday and Wednesday--two day sessions and a night.

Any other advice as far as hotels go? I see you can book hotels through teh tournament, which they claim can give you better rates.

[mctennis]

Tues and Wed are great days to go. Usually the first day is " kids day" ( or has been in the past anyway). So that day is crazy with kids running all over wanting autographs. Like you said some of the top players get byes on Monday and even some on Tuesday. Since now it is a two week event the schedule may be altered some. they have done a great job with adding more seats, courts, and practice courts. You'll see lots of top players either practicing or playing. Day sessions are a better deal with seeing more players IMO. The night sessions are just basically seeing matches. The players are usually done practicing before evening so you'll not see too many players practicing later on.
If you can get a AAA book look at the Mason, Ohio area in that book. There are lots of different hotels close by. I'd get a room now if you are seriously planning to come to the event in Cincy. It isn't truly in Cincinnati it is in Mason Ohio. Across I-71 from Kings Island amusement park. Lots of local places to eat as well or you can drive down closer to Cincinnati and try some restaurants there. I'm not sure how much discount or deal you get from the tournament. Check with them and see what they say them call the hotel or hotel reservation number and see what rate they give you. Good luck and have fun. It is a great time there. Oh yes, another thing don't bring anything to eat or drink there to the tennis center. They make you get rid of it. PLUS it is usually hot as all get out at that time of the year. No place to get in the shade so bring hats, sun screen and sun glasses. Probably something to sit on because the metal benches in some courts will blister your skin when it is that hot.

[j00dypoo]

great advice from mctennis.

i can't really elaborate on that too much, esp seeing as how I've never been to cincy - just other random tournaments. I think it will be fine in 2012. Cincy has always been a well-respected tournament. Even if a couple top players are missing from the draw you'll still get to see TONS of great tennis. Plus local tournaments like that always have a bunch of other fun stuff to do. Also easy to catch warm up/practice sessions and snag some autographs and pics.

[hcb0804]

MONDAY is the first full day, and the BEST day to go. Everybody who is there is either playing or practicing at some point during the day. We went last year and stayed the whole day, 11:00 am till 11:00 pm and saw tons of tennis, and got up close and personal with several top players like Nadal, Murray, Delpo, Isner and others for practice sessions. You also have to be sure to get some Skyline chili in the food court, and if you go out to eat go to Montgomery Inn if you want the best ribs in the world. Then find a Graeters ice cream shop for unbelievable chocolate chip ice cream...it has chocolate chunks the size of a quarter, and is available in several different flavors of ice cream. Take this advice from a Cincinnati native!!

[Jfolks259]

I've been thinking about the potential of some players not playing as well. I hope they'll skip Canada and play Cincy but who knows. I too am from the Chicago suburbs (Glen Ellyn) and have gone the full week the past two years. As stated, Mondays are fun, but you wont see the top guys in action. I'd go Wednesday. You'll still see a ton of matches plus you'll see the top players.

As for hotels, Drury Inn and Suites was really nice (not too expensive but it is about 10-15 minutes away.) Like others said, book early! I got screwed last year and got stuck with some dumpy place that I would never go back to.

Overall, its a great tournament. Any day you go, you'll have a great time!

[FEDERERNADAL13]

I went this year for the Tuesday/Wednesday session... I saw Fed, Nadal, Djoko, Ferrer, Llodra, Nestor, Mirni, Harrison, Berdych, Marc Lopez, Del po, and around 15 WTA players too. I also saw these guys and more practicing. Tuesday and Wednesday FTW!

It's always to think ahead. Especially when the tournament is Cincy - the real slam.

[FEDERERNADAL13]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

It's always to think ahead. Especially when the tournament is Cincy - the real slam.

Hey woodrow, have you ever umped there?

[CourtlyLove]

Originally Posted by FEDERERNADAL13

I went this year for the Tuesday/Wednesday session... I saw Fed, Nadal, Djoko, Ferrer, Llodra, Nestor, Mirni, Harrison, Berdych, Marc Lopez, Del po, and around 15 WTA players too. I also saw these guys and more practicing. Tuesday and Wednesday FTW!

Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Do you remember how much you paid for tickets? What kind of matches did you get to see on outer courts?

[abeldm]

Originally Posted by CourtlyLove

Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Do you remember how much you paid for tickets? What kind of matches did you get to see on outer courts?

I went last year on Wed/Thur... Its generally 2nd and 3rd round play. They sell mini 2 day packages that guarantee you seats on center court and give you all access to everywhere else on the grounds for both the morning and evening sessions both days. I think they were something like $170? They also have a mini package that is Mon/Tue that was a few dollars cheaper...
You will see everyone... unless they have an early exit. Also very fun to get to watch these guys practice as well. The top players will play on the outer courts as well... I know i watched Andy Murray on court 2 and 3 last year which are just first come first serve seating.
Cincy is a great atmosphere... very nice tournement to check out. I was very impressed and plan on going back again.

[Fee]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

It's always to think ahead. Especially when the tournament is Cincy - the real slam.

you kill me.


I went in 2007, my food was not taken away from me. I had an apple, a banana, a Luna bar, and a Rubbermaid 20 oz bottle in my backpack. On site I only got a slice of pizza and a frozen lemonade or two each day. I can force myself to go all day without food at tournaments, especially if it's hot like Cincy is. I went out to eat Skyline chili for dinner because I had heard so much about it and it wasn't that big of a deal to me, but its one of those things you have to do while you are there I suppose.

One thing I will say about Cincy, I can deal with heat, I go to IW almost every year, but humidity is still new to me for the most part. I was okay the first 3 days of Cincy, but the 4th day when the humidity rolled in, I thought I would die. Just be ready for the weather, wear comfortable shoes, good sunscreen, a hat, and the right clothes. I think it's a good tournament, but I haven't been there since it combined with the WTA so I don't know if that made it more crowded or anything.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

It's always to think ahead. Especially when the tournament is Cincy - the real slam.

That is why they employ real umpires, not you

[FEDERERNADAL13]

Originally Posted by CourtlyLove

Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Do you remember how much you paid for tickets? What kind of matches did you get to see on outer courts?

Sorry, didn't see this till now

About $90 a day, per person

So like $180 each, not bad at all

Wed/Tues is the whole 2nd round, so you see all the top guys, and the fringe talents. I saw Rafa/lopez vs tippy/troiki, fed vs del po, djok vs harrison, and many more epic matches

Watched Nestor and Mirny hit for an hour, got nestor's wristband saw fed practice, he signed a nice 8X10 photo, a jersey card, a hat, a ball, and a jumbo ball for me and my brother.

Got maybe 15 autographs all on individual tennis balls

Saw Ferrer (He's like 5'6 lol)

AMAZING trip, for sure doing it in 2012

[Lsmkenpo]

Originally Posted by CourtlyLove

Hello all,


1) Do you think next year is a bad year to go to Cincy? I'm a little concerned about the schedule congestion, especially with the Olympics involved. I assume Cincy would be less affected than Canada in this respect, though. I would just be bummed if I missed a bunch of the top guys.

It is a Masters 1000 event mandatory for the top 50, and the tune up for the US Open, every top player will be there.

Originally Posted by CourtlyLove

2) What are the best days to go? This will be my first time ever seeing top-level tennis, so I'm more concerned with seeing a lot, rather than seeing the later rounds. Tuesday and Wednesday a good plan? I know for Masters events the top players would have byes on the Monday. My gut is to do Tuesday and Wednesday--two day sessions and a night.

Any other advice as far as hotels go? I see you can book hotels through teh tournament, which they claim can give you better rates.

Tues,Wed,Thurs. are best, the first day of the tournament Monday the players that made the semis and final of the Rogers cup are there but probably won't play till Tuesday so they get a rest. You'll be able to see them practice Monday but probably not match play.

If you want to stay in Mason right by the tournament and Kings Island, Great wolf Lodge is the newest and nicest hotel about a mile from the tournament site. http://www.greatwolf.com/mason/waterpark The rest of the hotels close to the site are pretty standard and will be over priced.

If you don't want to stay at Great Wolf , you could book a hotel a little further off site, the Marriot is where a lot of the pros stay about 5 miles away.

You could get a much nicer and cheaper hotel in Cincinnatti about 20 miles from the site.

The tickets you buy will just be for the main stadium seating, you can sit pretty much anywhere in the smaller stadiums and courts to watch matches, the smaller stadium matches are often better than main stadium early in the week.

You don't need to buy a night session ticket unless you specifically want to watch the night match in the main stadium, or want to leave mid day and re enter late afternoon. You can stay for all matches except the night main stadium match with just a day session ticket. There will be another night match in stadium court you can watch at the same time without a night session ticket. I usually just wait to buy the night session ticket when I attend, to see the schedule, there are a ton of scalpers in the parking lot that will be selling good seats for the main stadium.

[CourtlyLove]

Originally Posted by Lsmkenpo

It is a Masters 1000 event mandatory for the top 50, and the tune up for the US Open, every top player will be there.

I realize that but it doesn't stop players from withdrawing with "injuries," especially with the Olympics fitting into an already-congested summer schedule.

The tickets you buy will just be for the main stadium seating, you can sit pretty much anywhere in the smaller stadiums and courts to watch matches, the smaller stadium matches are often better than main stadium early in the week.

You don't need to buy a night session ticket unless you specifically want to watch the night match in the main stadium, or want to leave mid day and re enter late afternoon. You can stay for all matches except the night main stadium match with just a day session ticket. There will be another night match in stadium court you can watch at the same time without a night session ticket. I usually just wait to buy the night session ticket when I attend, to see the schedule, there are a ton of scalpers in the parking lot that will be selling good seats for the main stadium.

Thanks for this info--I thought Center Court held the only night matches.

We plan on going to one of the night sessions, and the other night going to a Reds game in Cincinnati.

I think we'll wait and see which night we do which, based on who's playing. You mentioned scalpers will be there, but do you think the main ticket office might still have night session tickets available for Tuesday and Wednesday on the day?

[Lsmkenpo]

Originally Posted by CourtlyLove

I think we'll wait and see which night we do which, based on who's playing. You mentioned scalpers will be there, but do you think the main ticket office might still have night session tickets available for Tuesday and Wednesday on the day?

Yes, they rarely sell out, but be aware the seats will be in the upper deck.
Local businesses buy most of the lower box seats a year in advance. If you want a good seat a scalper will be your best bet.

They also have a big outside movie screen televising the night match in the bar area.

[CourtlyLove]

Well, I talked it over with the girlfriend and I think we may go with the Monday/Tuesday miniplan over Tuesday/Wednesday. It'll be cheaper, it'll be four sessions (if we do Tuesday/Wednesday we'll only get three sessions), and while we might not see as many of the top guys play, we'll see some of them and the rest of them we can watch practice. It'll be nice to have the same stadium seats every session, and now this opens up Wednesday for us to go to Cincinnati and hang out. We also booked a hotel in nearby Sharonville--a little far, but very affordable and has good reviews.