The City of Long Beach reached an agreement with the Long Beach Tennis Center at 899 Monroe Blvd., allowing the community staple to extend the length of its current lease to July 2036.

Coinciding with the new agreement, the tennis center plans to change its name to the Long Beach Sports Center. The owner, Naeem “Sid” Siddiqui, city officials said, is looking to make capital improvements to his business by converting one bubble into a multi-sports complex, resurfacing the tennis court, new solar and HVAC systems and upgrading the clubhouse. At a City Council meeting on July 21, City Manager Dan Creighton said the existing terms of the lease prevented Siddiqui from securing funds for the projects.

“With such a short amount of time remaining on his lease, [lenders] were not willing to give him loans,” Creighton said. “The operator has provided a good service to the community and has agreed to an increase in nearly 22 percent in year one, with a 3 percent annual increases thereafter.”

Some residents questioned the logistics of the new lease and whether the expanded sports complex would benefit the community. While Kathleen O’Leary defended the facility, saying her neighbors frequented the location to achieve a college scholarship for tennis, she questioned whether the city’s interests would be protected. 

“What if [Siddiqui] doesn’t make the capital improvements?” she said. “Is it in the contract that there’s going to be a penalty for that?”

Creighton said there are no stipulations in the contract requiring business improvements, acknowledging the city’s concern is with receiving rent payments. He said Siddiqui has consistently met his payment obligations, which help motivate the city to enter into a new lease agreement.

“We had the tax department look at the [property] rates and we did exceed the rates that we thought were fair and reasonable market value,” Creighton said.

The rent for the property will begin at $150,000 for the 2026-27 fiscal year, with $12,500 due to the city on the first day of the month. There is also a 10-year renewal option for the city manager.

Officials said they were pleased with the new agreement and that the business would continue to provide for the community.

“We are a very sports minded community,” City Councilman George Ennis said. “It’s not just for tennis fans. It’s going to encompass baseball, lacrosse, cricket, pickleball — something for the entire community.”

As of press time, the Herald reached out to Siddiqui for comment, but he did not reply.