It is impossible to take stock of the Tennis season in Canada without addressing the subject of a future roof on the center court of the IGA stadium, especially knowing that the rain too often played spoilsport during the last presentations of the Omnium National Bank of Montreal.
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There is no threat from the major circuits for the moment, but the leaders of the federation do not want to wait until it is one to midnight before making a move. They will therefore move forward with a feasibility study in January, with the hope of disclosing the results next summer and presenting them to the different levels of government.
“Our facilities are increasingly aging and will require a significant upgrade if we want to keep the tournament in Montreal within 30 years,” said the director of the event, Valérie Tétreault, on Tuesday.
By entering a new era in July, going from seven to twelve days of competition and from 56 to 96 players, the National Bank Open will have to meet new requirements. It will eventually need more than a roof, the construction of which was estimated at $70 million in 2019.
The center court of the IGA stadium in the rain.
Photo by Ben Pelosse
Dissatisfied players
There is a lack of space at the IGA stadium in order “to be able to ensure the sustainability of our tournament in the long term,” according to Tétreault. According to an ATP survey, players are starting to complain about the small locker rooms, the cramped center, the lack of training grounds, etc.
The organizers are also looking for a satellite site, which would be ideally located near the stadium or the hotel, so that the athletes can practice.
“The last thing we want is to linger [aux problèmes] when it is too late,” said the director, proud of the new mezzanine where the medical services for the players as well as the media room are grouped.
Valérie Tétreault, director of the National Bank of Montreal Open, and Gavin Ziv, CEO of Tennis Canada.
Photo Pierre-Paul Poulin
“Follow the parade”
Pressure also comes from the other Masters 1000, who do not skimp on investments. Rome should have a roof in 2026 and Cincinnati has announced $365 million in work, of which $211,000 comes from the City, Tétreault said.
“It raises the bar,” confirmed the woman who did not expect to work on projects of this scale so quickly when she was named, two years ago, at the head of the tournament, whose profits notably finance the relief.
“We must look at what is being done elsewhere so as not to be last in class,” she noted. You have to prepare yourself and follow the parade in relation to what is offered, both to amateurs and players, almost everywhere internationally.
And that’s without counting the other cities that would like to host Masters 1000, the category just after the Grand Slams.
“If we are not ready to do what it takes to be up to standard, there is someone else who will demonstrate it. The last thing we want is for the ATP to be tempted [d’aller ailleurs]», Warned Tétreault.
