Miami Open: $400 Million in Two Weeks, Rivaling the French Open
Every March, the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open are held consecutively on the sunny east and west coasts of the United States, earning the nickname “Sunshine Double.” This weekend, with the crowning of the men’s and women’s singles champions at the Miami Open, this year’s Sunshine Double has officially come to a close.
Orange Bay Sports Research finds that the Sunshine Double holds a “tier-breaking lead” in the ATP and WTA tours:
In terms of attendance, ATP and WTA 500 and 1000 level events typically draw between 100,000 and 300,000 attendees. In 2025, the Indian Wells Open welcomed 500,000 attendees, while the Miami Open saw 400,000 attendees.
In terms of revenue, the Miami Open’s 2025 revenue grew 10% year-over-year to $400 million—already rivaling the French Open.
It is reported that box seat prices for the 2025 Miami Open exceeded $100,000 for the two-week event, while single-match box seats cost several thousand dollars. Food and beverage revenue grew 20%, a significant increase. Retail product sales within the venue rose 15%, including event merchandise and products from official apparel sponsor Lacoste.
Above: In 2025, Inter Miami’s Messi attended Djokovic’s match.
Above: This year’s popular “Love All” alcoholic beverage, priced at $22, was specially created for the event by Santa Margherita Wines.
This year also marks the first edition of the Miami Open after an equity change.
In October 2025, a consortium led by Ari Emanuel, executive of Endeavor Group (parent company of IMG) and global sports and entertainment giant, acquired multiple top-tier tennis event assets for over $1 billion, including the Miami Open. In this transaction, the company owned by real estate tycoon Stephen Ross, who also owns Hard Rock Stadium and multiple Miami sports events, joined as a lead investor and acquired a 45% stake in the Miami Open.
Other supporters of Mari include private equity giant Apollo Investment Management, RedBird Capital Partners, Qatar Investment Authority, Ares Management, and others.
The Miami Open began in 1985. Former professional player Butch Buchholz (pictured below) was determined to create a major tournament for players. He set his sights on a piece of land on Key Biscayne, Miami—a废弃的垃圾填埋场. Despite strong opposition from local residents and the landowner Matheson family, after five years of litigation, Buchholz ultimately prevailed but was forced to sign a strict agreement: the stadium’s permanent seating could not exceed 7,500, and no expansion was allowed.
In 1994, the Crandon Park Tennis Center, costing $20 million, was finally completed. This octagonal stadium, featuring a meditation room and hair salon, was Buchholz’s proud achievement. He even allocated half the space to players and media, and the other half to fans and sponsors—a concept that later inspired Charlie Pasarell, the founder of the Indian Wells Open.
Related reading: History of Indian Wells Tennis Open
However, over time, outdated facilities, the inability to add a roof, and makeshift temporary setups repeatedly hindered the event’s upgrade. In 2019, driven by Stephen Ross (pictured below), owner of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, the event moved to the team’s home—Hard Rock Stadium. This football stadium was transformed during the tournament into a temporary tennis venue seating approximately 14,000 spectators, with the F1 Miami Grand Prix track located just outside.
In the first year of the move to Hard Rock Stadium, tournament attendance exceeded 380,000, significantly breaking previous records. In 2025, the event’s 40th anniversary, attendance surpassed the 400,000 mark.
Today, the commercial value of the Miami Open continues to rise. This year’s sponsor lineup has further upgraded: Cadillac, Emirates, Lacoste, La Roche-Posay, Disney Cruise Line and other well-known brands are among its platinum sponsors. Seven new companies signed with the Miami Open, including Oliver Peoples, a luxury eyewear brand with deep ties to Federer.
｜Sources: Miami Open official website, ATP Tour official website, Miami New Times, Sportical, Business Traveller
｜Image credits: Miami Open official Facebook, ATP Tour official website, Tennis Hall of Fame, Hard Rock Stadium official website