en.Wedoany.com Reported - Tennis Canada plans to build a new center court with a retractable roof in Montreal's Jarry Park, a move aimed at significantly modernizing existing facilities to keep pace with the rising standards of the professional tour.
The organization announced the news on June 23 after completing a year-long feasibility study exploring long-term development options for the National Bank Open in Montreal. According to tournament director Valérie Tétreault, the proposed new venue would increase seating capacity to approximately 15,000, while the aging IGA Stadium currently holds 11,991. Additionally, the project would add up to four practice courts and one match court. Tétreault noted that the study considered three options: renovating the existing IGA Stadium, building a new stadium within Jarry Park, or relocating the event to another site in the city. The relocation option was quickly ruled out due to cost, while the differences between the first two options were "negligible."
Tennis Canada stated that next steps include determining the construction timeline, estimated costs, and project financing, and has begun discussions with three levels of government regarding potential funding. Bahoz Dara Aziz, spokesperson for Canada's Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden, expressed support for the project in a statement.
The new venue is proposed to be built on the site of an existing baseball field west of the practice courts, allowing the tournament to continue at the current facilities during construction. The stadium is designed as a three-season venue, with cold-weather protection around the courts, but the court itself is not suitable for winter use. The need for a roof on the center court has long been recognized, as rainy weather frequently disrupts the schedule of the National Bank Open, held annually in late July and early August. Tétreault previously stated that among 1000-level events (the tier just below the four Grand Slams), Montreal's facilities rank "almost at the bottom." For comparison, the Cincinnati Open invested $260 million in renovations ahead of its 2025 event. Meanwhile, Montreal's center court last underwent a major overhaul in 1996, with the southern end of the stadium dating back to 1969. Tétreault also noted that Toronto, which alternates hosting the men's and women's events with Montreal each year, faces less pressure for modernization, as Sobeys Stadium was built in 2004 and historically has been less affected by rain.
Tétreault said the National Bank Open's practice courts do not meet standards, requiring approval from the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) to use additional courts at the nearby Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard. Tétreault stated that while the ATP and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) have not issued an ultimatum, they have requested a plan of action outlining how to modernize the facilities. She mentioned that this is the first time she has been required to report progress to the ATP on a monthly basis. Tennis Canada signed a 30-year agreement with the ATP and WTA in 2022 as part of negotiations to expand the event to 12 days, but organizers still need to meet the evolving standards of the professional tour. In a statement, the WTA welcomed Tennis Canada's commitment to investing in the future of the National Bank Open and looks forward to continued collaboration to secure the tournament's long-term future and success.
