Gov. Dannel Malloy’s office said this afternoon that the state’s Capital Regional Development Authority will vote soon on purchasing the rights to the New Haven Open professional women’s tennis tournament.
Negotiations over the tournament’s future began several months ago, when another state sought to purchase the rights, Malloy’s office said. The tournament, which officials say generates $26 million in economic activity, has been held in New Haven for 16 years.
The United States Tennis Association approved the sale of the rights on Oct. 6. The state would pay $618,000, if the CRDA votes to approve the deal.
Malloy said the tournament has received firm commitments from sponsors Aetna, American Express, First Niagara, Yale and Yale-New Haven Hospital.
“[CRDA] was created for and is unique in its ability to act on such opportunities,” Michael Freimuth, executive director of the CRDA, said in a statement.
Officials said Anne Worcester would remain the tournament’s director.
The New Haven Register first reported the news of the state’s involvement this morning, citing an anonymous source.