Miami Open Plans To Change Iconic Purple Courts To Teal

MIAMI, FL — Miami tennis fans will not only bid farewell to Key Biscayne after the next Miami Open in March but they may also have to get used to a new color scheme when the tournament moves to its new home at Hard Rock Stadium. Renderings of the new digs released Wednesday show the tournament's iconic purple tennis courts will be replaced with teal courts. Tournament spokesman Sam Henderson confirmed that the color change is in the works.

"We are proposing teal courts when we move venues," Henderson told Patch. "This must still be approved by the tours, but that is our intention."

Just as red brick dust is instantly recognizable to tennis fans as Roland Garros in Paris and balding grass strikes visions of strawberries and cream at London's Wimbledon, the purple courts have become synonymous with the unique character — or characters as the case may be — of the Magic City.

Whatever the color, fans and players alike are grateful to keep the tournament gem in Miami's crown.

Miami draws some 300,000 visitors along with national and international television coverage. It is also considered a far more intimate setting where fans have been able to get much closer to superstars like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.

In a 2016 op-ed published in The New York Times, tennis superstar Williams insisted that the rumored relocation of the event would have been a blow for everyone.

“The Miami Open has been a part of Miami’s culture for as long as I can remember and it’s a tournament that is very special to me and my family,” explained the 23-time Grand Slam champion and new mom in a statement on Wednesday. “I’ve enjoyed some of my best career moments in Miami thanks to the amazing tournament team and the supportive Miami fans. I am thrilled the Miami Open is staying in Miami, where it belongs.”

Miami Open’s last event at Crandon Park will take place between March 19 and April 1 after a 32-year run. Organizers said that the tournament had numerous offers to relocate to other cities but chose to remain in Miami-Dade County, which recently approved the move. IMG, which owns the tournament credited Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross with keeping the event in the Miami area.

“The Miami Open belongs in Miami,” acknowledged IMG Co-President Mark Shapiro. “We’re grateful to have amazing partners in Stephen, the Miami Dolphins organization, Mayor Gimenez and above all the people of Miami who have been supporting the Miami Open for decades. While we’re looking forward to creating the new Miami Open experience at Hard Rock Stadium, our priority is to make the last edition of the Key Biscayne event the best it’s ever been.”

Ross said that Hard Rock has much to offer fans even if it's not the picturesque Key Biscayne setting with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami. "We are extremely excited that the Miami Open, a global entertainment event, will remain in our community,” he said. “We are committed to bringing a best-in-class experience alongside IMG to all of the players, fans and partners that will take part in this global affair. The opportunity to showcase the best tennis in the world in Hard Rock Stadium, a venue that brings together the best of culture, art and entertainment, will be an amazing experience for everyone involved.”

In nearly every category, the new home of the Miami Open will represent a significant upgrade with 30 show and practice courts up from 21; expanded parking, more VIP suites, the largest video screen of any tennis event; improved Wi-Fi, media facilities, locker rooms and fitness space for players and tennis staff.

The centerpiece of the move will be a new center court that will maintain the intimacy that fans came to love in Key Biscayne — a 14,000-seat stadium within the much larger Hard Rock Stadium. The venue has already undergone $500 million in renovations in recent years. Hard Rock Stadium boasts a state-of-the-art shade canopy, four giant high-definition video boards, new seats closer to the action, concourses, restrooms and retail outlets.

Image rendering courtesy Miami Open