WME | IMG UNVEIL MIAMI OPEN EXPERIENCE
Go for Tennis, Stay for Food, Fashion & Volleyball @MiamiOpenTennis Experience

Miami Open (Photo: Miami Open)
This year WME/IMG will unveil the Miami Open Experience, a new entertainment platform at the Miami Open presented by Itau, that will allow fans to enjoy many new events during the second week of the tournament which is scheduled for March 23 – April 5, 2015 at the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Miami, FL.
The Miami Open Experience reflects the expertise and resources across WME | IMG coming together to create a truly unique experience for tennis fans. The 2015 Miami Open will be the ultimate beach party, featuring celebrated chefs, fashion designers, models and Olympians alongside one of the world’s most glamorous and competitive tennis tournaments.
“Together, WME | IMG connects all aspects of sports, entertainment, fashion and media, allowing us to create unique offerings that lead the industry forward. The Miami Open is the crown jewel of the company’s event portfolio, and we’re constantly seeking opportunities to elevate the experience for players and fans. The Miami Open Experience is a great example of how we’re transforming the landscape of sporting events,’’ said Mark Shapiro, Chief Content Officer for IMG.
The Miami Open Experience will take place during the second week of the tennis event and consist of three major elements:
1) Taste of the Open: culinary programming curated by chefs Tom Colicchio, Scott Conant, Josh Capon and Michelle Bernstein.
2) Tori Praver Fashion Show: model-turned-fashion designer Praver will showcase her latest line of swimwear.
3) AVP Pro Beach Volleyball: exhibition tournament with participation from some of the world’s best volleyball stars led by three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings.
The Miami Open Experience marks the first time we’ve presented the entertainment package to our fans on this scale. That combined with the new premier shopping offering and the myriad improvements we’ve made this year for fans and players further positions the Miami Open as one of the best entertainment experiences in sport,’’ added Fernando Soler, Managing Director of IMG’s tennis division and Adam Barrett, Miami Open Tournament Director.
All but one of the individuals participating in the Miami Open Experience are WME | IMG clients, showcasing the extraordinary reach of the newly combined company. The Miami Open Experience is a complimentary offering included in the cost of the Miami Open ticket.
TASTE OF THE OPEN
From April 1-5, the Miami Open will turn into a gourmet market with culinary presentations by four celebrated chefs: Tom Colicchio, Scott Conant, Josh Capon and Michelle Bernstein.
Tom Colicchio, host of the Emmy Award-winning program Top Chef, is one of the most-highly regarded figures in the culinary arts. He was named Outstanding Chef by the James Beard Foundation in 2010, one of the most prestigious prizes in the culinary world. One of his first restaurants – Gramercy Tavern – was voted the Most Popular Restaurant in New York City by the Zagat Guide on numerous occasions. Colicchio’s newest restaurant, Beachcraft, will open in Miami this March at the 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach. Additionally, Colicchio is the host of Bravo’s Best New Restaurant which premiered in January 2015.
Scott Conant, the award winning chef, author and TV personality, is the founder of New York City’s Scarpetta, nominated in 2009 for ‘’Best New Restaurant in America’’ by the James Beard Foundation. Conant opened the Miami edition of Scarpetta at the Fountainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach and has recently unveiled his highly anticipated new venture, Corsair, in Aventura, Florida. Conant’s career spans nearly 30 years, includes multiple restaurants, an enthusiastic following of fans and an ever-expanding brand. He has established himself as one of America’s top chefs and restaurateurs.
Josh Capon is the chef and partner of Lure Fishbar at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel as well as The Bowery Meat Co, Burger & Barrel and El Toro Blanco in New York City. He was the winner at this year’s Burger Bash at the South Beach Food & Wine Festival and at the 2014 New York City Food & Wine Festival. The win marked his sixth at the events.
Michelle Bernstein, a local favorite, rounds off the award-winning chef lineup. Known for her Latin style flavor of cooking, Chef Michelle is the founder of Michy’s, Crumb on Parchment and Seagrape. A James Beard Foundation Award winner and cookbook author (Cuisine À Latina), Chef Michelle is also the host of Check Please, South Florida, now in its 12th season. In addition, she regularly appears as a guest judge on Top Chef.
FASHION
No Miami experience would be complete without fashion and swimwear. On Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4, fashionistas can check out the new swimwear line from model Tori Praver. The Miami Open Experience will also have a pop-up store showcasing Praver’s swimwear range from April 2 through the end of the tournament.
PRO BEACH VOLLEYBALL
In addition to food and fashion, the Miami Open Experience will include an exhibition tournament featuring the world’s best pro beach volleyball players. The tournament will take place April 2-4 and include three men’s and women’s teams, starring triple Olympic Gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, 2012 Olympic Silver medalist April Ross, 2008 Olympic Gold medalist Phil Dalhausser and two-time Olympian Sean Rosenthal. The players will be taking to the sand at the Miami Open’s new beach volleyball court located along the west side of the stadium. The team of Walsh Jennings – Ross went undefeated on the 2014 AVP Tour.
Tickets to the 2015 Miami Open are on sale now and can be purchased by phone (+1.305.442.3367) or online at http://www.miamiopen.com. An exhilarating two weeks of tennis, food, fashion, volleyball and fun conclude with the women’s final on Saturday, April 4 and the men’s final on Sunday, April 5. Individual session tickets start at $31 and packages begin at $136. Qualifying rounds will be played March 23-24 and will determine 12 additional slots in each singles draw. The Miami Open will also award wildcards to five men and eight women. The main draw begins on Tuesday, March 24 as the women take the court, followed by the first round of the men’s main draw on Wednesday, March 25.
About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2015 Miami Open will be played March 23-April 5 at the Crandon Tennis Center in Miami. The two-week combined event is owned and operated by IMG. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a Premier Mandatory event on the WTA calendar, and features the top men’s and women’s tennis players in the world. The tournament is widely regarded as the most glamorous on the ATP and WTA calendars because of its exotic Miami location, thriving nightlife, five-star hotels and restaurants, beautiful weather and beaches, and its celebrity appeal. For ticket information, call +1.305.442.3367 or visit http://www.miamiopen.com.