There is a feeling of nostalgia at the Crandon Park Tennis Center this week as the Miami Open presented by Itau stages its 32nd and final tournament in Key Biscayne. For some ATP World Tour stars, the facility evokes memories of formative years at the Orange Bowl, the prestigious junior tournament and the stepping stone to professional tennis. For others, it’s a regular practice haunt and a career-maker or breaker since 1987.
“I think the fans make it really, really special,” said Marin Cilic. “It’s a big mix of Latin American fans and here from the United States. It’s also enjoyable being on the practice courts to feel the atmosphere – especially playing in big matches.” Alexander Zverev agrees. “I think coming over the water on the bridge, seeing the Miami skyline a little bit, is very special. Obviously, the crowd gets into it here a lot and this is the thing we will most remember. The atmosphere is something very special here.”
But on 2 April, when the temporary stands and marquees, surrounding the 13,800-seater stadium arena, begin to get taken down, the prestigious tournament – that attracts more than 300,000 spectators each year – will relocate to the Hard Rock Stadium, a multi-purpose facility and home of the Miami Dolphins, in the north of the city, 21 miles away.
Former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, the President of the ATP Player Council and a six-time Miami champion, welcomes the move as a positive for the sport’s fans and players. “I think the growth and evolution in general is a positive thing. When we talk about the tennis tournament, when we talk about where we want to get this sport, I think it's a good thing. I've had plenty of great memories and success in this tournament, and good times on this island.”
Juan Martin Del Potro, who captured his first Masters 1000 trophy at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, said, “I like to see Argentinian fans around the courts, Latino-American people, also, and the facilities for players are great, so that's all the things that make a good tournament. I will miss this tournament, playing on Key Biscayne next year, but I think it could be even better in the new place.”
Grigor Dimitrov admitted, “It's going to be definitely a different event for us... [but it will be] just as exciting." The Bulgarian, who finished runner-up to Ricardas Berankis in the under-18 Orange Bowl final in 2007, recalled of Crandon Park, “I had one of the first big wins I ever had here. I feel like there's so much history… I’ve also spent so many off-seasons out here. I know everything around, that makes it feel even more at home."
Like every well-travelled player, Cilic, Jack Sock and Zverev are all looking forward to competing in 2019 at the National Football League stadium. Leading matches will be held in the 65,000-seater stadium, temporarily revamped for tennis, with permanent outer courts to be constructed in a nearby parking lot.
“I think it’s good it’s going to be moved to Miami Dolphins stadium,” said Cilic. “The tournament definitely needs more space, the tournament has been trying to deal with that for many years now. I hope it’s going to be a great move for the fan experience [and] for the player experience.
Sock said, “I’ve had a lot of memories [at Crandon Park]. I had my first huge wild card in this tournament, when I was a junior in high school, from IMG. I played Orange Bowl here. But in order for it to grow and expand, obviously, it needs a venue change. As a big NFL fan, I’m very excited to be able to go over there and see the locker rooms, be able to use their facilities and just experience a day in the life of an NFL player… Players will be anxious to get out there and hit to see how it is.”
Zverev added, “The stadium will be much bigger and it was be also kind of indoors/outdoors. I think it will be even more electric and nice for us to play. I hope that it will be even better.”
Prior to moving to Crandon Park, venues in Delray Beach and Boca Raton hosted the tournament in the first two years before founder Butch Buchholz moved it to Key Biscayne in 1987.