The vote is expected to take place June 26. Talks between Charleston-based Beemok Capital — owner of the Western & Southern Open professional tennis tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio — and local government officials have been going on for months but only surfaced publicly this month in a joint city-county meeting to discuss the proposed tennis center. Malcolm Graham, head of the City Council economic development committee, says that city administrators should be able to fully vet and negotiate terms with Beemok Capital in time to vote by the end of next month.

A plan to back a $400 million tennis stadium complex in the River District development with $60 million to $70 million in taxpayer money will likely come to a Charlotte (N.C.) City Council vote on June 26 — just over a month after the full 11-member council discussed the project for the first time, the Charlotte Business Journal reported.

Malcolm Graham, head of the City Council economic development committee, told the Charlotte Business Journal that city administrators should be able to fully vet and negotiate terms with Charleston-based Beemok Capital in time to vote by the end of next month. He said that “making sure we take the time to thoroughly respond to questions asked by council members as well as members of the county commission” is essential and can be done in time for a vote next month.

“I believe it is ours to say ‘no’ to — and I think it’s time to say, ‘Yes, we want it,’” Graham added.

Talks between Beemok, owner of the Western & Southern Open professional tennis tournament in Cincinnati, and local government have been going on for months but only surfaced publicly this month in a joint city-county meeting to discuss the proposed tennis center, the Charlotte Business Journal reported. Council members praised the potential for the tournament — which would attract an estimated 350,000 fans over two weeks — while asking for more details on year-round community access, diversity and inclusion vending and job opportunities, and commitments to work with area schools and other nonprofits.

The River District is being developed by Crescent Communities, the Charlotte Business Journal reported. The first phase of construction started this year, with 18 phases anticipated over the next decade to build homes and multi-family properties in various price ranges as well as stores, restaurants and other commercial projects. Brendan Pierce, Crescent’s president of commercial property, told council this week that the district’s commitment to allocate 550 acres, or 40%, of the property to green spaces and parks will dovetail nicely with the design of the tennis center. Graham said those environmentally-friendly commitments strengthen the proposal in the minds of city and county leaders.“

There will be time to clearly say do we want this tournament or not,” he said. “And I think we do. … And it’s really not about the tournament, it’s about a major investment in our hospitality and tourism industry.”

Graham said Mecklenburg County would likely vote later but he emphasized county and state government will operate on their own time and processes, the Charlotte Business Journal reported. Tracy Dodson, the city’s head of economic development, and Ford Perry, Beemok’s chief operating officer, said the talks are dependent on a decision from Charlotte soon because Beemok is considering Cincinnati and other unnamed cities.

Tournament organizers want to decide the event’s future this summer in time to either expand the existing Cincinnati site or to relocate, the Charlotte Business Journal reported. Charlotte is the only city that has been publicly named as a relocation candidate; Perry said May 22 that Beemok has spoken to other cities but did not provide any details.

“Between looking at Charlotte and looking at Cincinnati, they’ve got to go into design and get under construction,” Dodson told the Charlotte Business Journal. She made similar remarks at the council meeting on May 22. After the June 26 meeting, council only has one business meeting in July and two in August.

The proposal entails building a 53-acre, 40-court tennis center in the River District, a 1,400-acre, multi-phase mixed-use project in west Charlotte between the airport and the Catawba River, the Charlotte Business Journal reported. Dodson said May 22 that the city is considering $60 million to $70 million toward the project that would come from a portion of existing tourism tax revenue. Leslie Johnson, Mecklenburg County deputy county manager, told the county’s economic development committee that Mecklenburg is likely looking at putting $40 million into the project if it moves forward.

Beemok is seeking one-third of the total cost — in the range of $125 million to $132 million — from city, county and state government, the Charlotte Business Journal reported. Graham and Dodson said they anticipate the first government body to vote will be the city. George Dunlap, head of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, could not be reached for immediate comment.

On May 22, Graham said that Beemok has discussed the project with Gov. Roy Cooper and the Republican majority leaders in the state legislature. Ford Porter, a spokesman for the governor, told the Charlotte Business Journal, “Yes, the Governor and our office met with this group, and they have a strong plan. I don’t have any additional information to share at this time.” Based on the estimates above, Beemok would be seeking roughly $20 million in state funding. The tournament would relocate in 2026, one years after doubling in length to two weeks and expanding the men’s and women’s fields to 96 from 56. Last year, the Western & Southern Open singles fields featured 19 of the 20 highest-ranked men’s and women’s players in the world.