Aging, outdated Rock Creek Tennis Center threatens regions only pro tennis tournament

“One of the reasons that we were brought in is because they had run out of patience,” Ein said of the ATP Tour, the governing body of professional tennis

Ein’s investment group took over the Mubadala Citi DC Open, which was then just called the DC Open, in 2019. The infusion of cash immediately paid dividends. It has sold out four years in a row, with an estimated economic impact to the District of $30.2 million annually.

But Ein said the District could be in danger of losing the tournament if the city and National Park Service don’t agree to major upgrades on the aging tennis center. And Ein said time is running out to strike a deal.

“They know we're on the right track,” Ein said of the ATP Tour. “They know we're committed, but they're not going to wait forever. These events are highly sought after, by cities around the globe. There was just there was just a bidding war between Cincinnati and Charlotte for a big tournament. And that's happening all over the globe.”

Every year, Jerome and Jason Chambers drive down from New Jersey to spend a couple of days at the DC Open. They said the tennis is great. But agree the stadium itself has major issues

“I think they need to do some upgrades,” Jason Chambers said.

Peeling paint and rust are just the start of the issues at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park. WUSA9 found holes in the concrete, cracks in the walls and decaying light posts. We even spotted graffiti on the stands.

American University students Siena Sysko and Lexi Aronin said they expected more when they decided to attend a match. 

“The structure is just not that nice, kind of old, worn down,” Sysko said. “So, I’m kind of surprised.”

Ein said the ATP Tour has taken notice.

“At some point, if the facility doesn't match the level of the event, we're not going to be able to keep it here,” Ein said.

Ein said he does his best to dress things up with crews spending weeks building grandstands around auxiliary courts to accommodate the one-of-a-kind field of 500 player men’s and women’s field. They even add air-conditioned bars and food courts for regular folks and VIPs alike. But Ein said there is only so much cosmetic changes can do.

“I mean, we've done a lot of the band aids,” Ein said. “And we, every year, put hundreds of thousands into repainting some of the more obvious things. We spend hundreds of thousands of more dollars putting signs up to cover a rustling stadium. But actually, the problems are now much deeper.”

Ein said the tennis center, which was built back in the 1980s, now has uneven courts that need to be resurfaced each year at the tournaments expense. He also said there are also unequal and inadequate locker rooms for female players. And he said the list goes on.

“You can always whittle something down to numbers, but like Mark said, it's also the intangible impact,” said John Borden, President and CEO of The Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, or WTEF.

WTEF is the largest community beneficiary of the event, with the mission of providing free tennis and education programs for children in underserved communities.

 “It's a seven-figure contribution annually, you know, so it's big for us in that regard,” Borden said. “It also helps to endow the future of what WTEF does. So, if this goes away, it's not just transactionally. You know, what does it mean for the city, you know, but also generations of opportunity start to vanish when it doesn't exist.”

The tennis center is owned and operated by the National Park Service. And a spokesperson told WUSA9 by agreement, their responsibilities are limited to:

And only when “funds permit.”

The National Park Service said it has invested more than $1.9 million in upkeep and improvements to the Rock Creek Tennis Center since 2014.

Ein and Borden are now trying to jump start talks with the National Parks Service and D.C. government for costly, but necessary, wholesale renovations to upgrade a tennis center that is used by the community year-round. At the same time, they are trying to keep professional tennis from pulling out of the District.

“I’m an optimistic person by nature, and there is optimism,” Ein said. “But actually, pretty deep concern at this point, just understanding how deep the issues are, and how short the timeframe is to come together.”

"One hundred percent," Borden said when asked if he shares Ein’s concern. “Then I like I think, you know, there's optimism because there's a clear path forward. But I think it will be foolhardy to not recognize the risk and the concerns that are in front of the tournament and its future.”

Ein said tax dollars aren’t the only way to get the renovations done, and that a public – private partnership, much like D.C. struck with its public golf courses, is a model.

Events DC, the quasi-city agency which supports the DC Open, said in a statement:

Events DC is a proud sponsor of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, which supports our mission to showcase Washington, DC as a world-class, family-friendly destination. The prestigious DC tournament has captivated tennis fans since 1969, while providing a significant economic impact to our city and creating jobs for District residents. We look forward to working with our partners Mark Ein, Mubadala Citi DC Open team and Washington Tennis & Education Foundation on its continued growth.

WUSA9 is still waiting to hear back from a National Park Spokesperson about Ein’s call for major renovations to the facility.