A unique partnership between GF Sports & Entertainment and the Dallas Cowboys will bring the franchise known worldwide for football into the realm of professional tennis. With its recently announced upgrade to an ATP 500-level tournament, the Dallas Open will usher in pro tennis players from around the world to Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, starting in 2025.
The Dallas Open is currently an ATP Tour 250 men’s tournament that will play its third year in Dallas on Feb. 3-11, 2024, at the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex at SMU. It'll be the only ATP Tour indoor championship in the United States, and features men’s top world tennis players in singles and doubles competition. The tournament, previously held as the New York Open, is one of the longest-running American tournaments on the ATP Tour. Its rich history features some of the top names in tennis, including legends John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Michael Chang, John Isner and Andy Murray, and a current stars such as Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic and Reilly Opelka.
“As America’s newest ATP 500-level tournament, the Dallas Open continues to grow the sport offering greater competition, star power and ranking points to American players on the professional tennis circuit, as well as those coming from abroad,” says Peter Lebedevs, Dallas Open executive vice president of tennis operations and tournament director.
To kick-off this new phase of the Dallas Open, 16-time ATP tour winner John Isner made a 30-yard field goal at the Cowboys Training Facility last fall.
“We're thrilled to partner with the Dallas Cowboys as the Dallas Open begins a new chapter as an ATP 500 tournament,” says Gary Fuhrman, chairman, CEO and founder of GF Capital. “We look forward to welcoming a stronger, more diverse field of players and thousands of enthusiastic tennis fans at The Star in Frisco.”
Charlotte Jones, owner and chief brand officer for the Dallas Cowboys, says the facility and campus was also built to host world class events. "We’re thrilled to host the stars of pro tennis at Ford Center at the Star in Frisco.”
The Star is the 91-acre campus of the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters and training facility in Frisco. Developed as a first-of-its-kind partnership between the City of Frisco, Frisco ISD and the Dallas Cowboys, The Star features Ford Center, a 12,000-seat stadium that hosts Frisco ISD football games, concerts and other events; Cowboys Fit, a 60,000 square-foot gym developed in partnership with leading fitness developer, Mark Mastrov; Cowboys Club, a members-only club where the country club meets the NFL; the Omni Frisco Hotel, a 16-floor, 300-room luxury hotel; Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research at The Star, a 300,000 square-foot center of excellence for sports medicine; Twelve Cowboys Way, a 17-story, luxury residential tower in partnership between Pro Football Hall-of-Fame Quarterback #12 Roger Staubach, and Dallas-based developer and former Dallas Cowboys center, Robert Shaw; Formation, a dynamic coworking experience offering a collaborative work environment of open workspace, dedicated desks and private offices; as well as a variety of shopping, dining and nightlife options throughout The Star District.
