There has been a lot of talk about adding a roof to centre court in recent days. But the National Bank Open and Valérie Tétreault have another major item on their shopping list: a third major court.
The IGA stadium site has two fields that can accommodate more than 4,000 spectators: Rogers Court and Center Court. However, as the tournament’s popularity grew, so did the need to create a new field with a larger capacity.
“I think we saw [cette nécessité] this week with several big headliners, who played either on court 5 or court 9,” she justified.
“With the stands overflowing, headliners deciding to play doubles, it meant we had to send them to courts where there was barely room to sit. It’s a nice problem,” she says.
In addition to a new major course, the Omnium Banque Nationale must acquire new training grounds to meet ATP standards.
PHOTO DAVID KIROUAC, USA TODAY SPORTS
Valerie Tetreault
Montreal’s infrastructure will have to reach new standards, since the tournament will expand next year. It will go from 56 to 96 players, and seven sessions will be added, including an extra round. All this, spread over 12 days.
Knowing this, the site will have to occupy more space. “This is something we are discussing with people from the borough and the city to evaluate the options. We need to find more space,” says M.me Tetreault.
Looking for the “wow”
Valérie Tétreault wants to take advantage of this expansion to present a redefined Omnium. “We need to identify the elements that will be able to achieve this kind of wow, to have this feeling that the National Bank Omnium is entering a new era.”
His stated and repeated goal is for Montreal to become one of the greatest tennis cities in the world within the next 30 years.
“We have lots of ideas. Now we have to find the resources needed to make our dreams come true. We won’t stop dreaming, that’s for sure.”
It’s hard as a federation and non-profit organization to compare ourselves with big machines like Indian Wells. We believe that with our Montreal flavor, we can compete.
Valerie Tetreault
What could certainly raise Montreal’s tennis image to another level is the installation of a roof. The director admitted that she was aiming for construction in three to six years, a goal she had always hidden to this day.
“It’s becoming the norm. We don’t want to be known as the bottom of the pile. We want our tournament to continue to be highly regarded by players,” she shares.
“Every window we lose to present matches is a lost opportunity to promote Montreal,” says the former player.
Close to the record
As long as it is without a roof, the Omnium will be at the mercy of the rain. The current situation prevents it from maximizing its ticket sales.
Around 227,000 supporters will have participated in the 2024 edition. This figure would have risen to 255,000, had it not been for the rain, according to the organizers, while the record, set in 2022, is 237,000.
“If it hadn’t been for the rain, I would have come to announce another attendance record. I think that’s not too strong a word: we would have smashed it,” considers Mme Tetreault.
Qualifying sessions and the first days of the draw were sold out. Next year, with the expansion, the organization hopes to welcome a greater diversity of fans, depending on the rounds presented.