Roland Garros Expansion Plans Put On Hold

Written by: Staff on 4th March 2013

Roland Garros Expansion Plans Put On Hold |

The long-term future of Roland Garros, home of the French Open since the late 1920’s, hangs in doubt after the proposed $US 400 million redevelopment plans, have been put on hold by the Administrative Court of Paris following intensive protests by environmentalists and local residents.

The Administrative Tribunal of Paris condemned the plan, launched in 2011 by the Paris city council, as “illegal”, complaining that the plan contained insufficient information and that the financial contribution from the French Tennis Federation (FFT) was too low.

Things appeared to be settled for the site on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne in Paris’ 16^th arrondissement after the FFTvoted in favor of staying at Roland Garros, rather than moving to alternate venues in Versailles, Gonesse or Marne-le-Vallée (site of Euro Disney), in February 2011.

Roland Garros is the smallest of the four Grand Slam venues in terms of acreage and the new plans would have increased the venue’s size from 21 acres to about 33.8 acres, potentially at the expense of the neighboring botanical gardens.

However when the plans were originally passed by the city council, Bertrand Delanoe, Paris’s mayor since 2001,publicly dismissed concerns they would damage the botanical garden, saying it “will not destroy one single plant or one single flower.”

Now the Administrative Tribunal of Paris has ruled that the FFT failed to adequately address concerns long voiced by three local associations who repeatedly stressed their concern about the impact on the environment. Therefore local authorities have been given two months to cancel agreements with the FFT.

A spokesman for the FFT, whose plans including a retractable roof over Court Philippe Chatrier and a new show court stadium were approved by city authorities two years ago, said: “The decision is noted with astonishment and plans for an appeal are already in progress.”

On the FFT’s website, a statement said the federation remained determined to carry out the modernization of Roland Garros, calling it ‘vital for the sustainability’ of the French Open.

“The FFT is surprised by the decision of the administrative tribunal relating to the Roland Garros modernization project,” said the statement.

“Contesting the grounds for cancellation, and convinced that the project is respectful of the site, we will appeal the decision and request a stay of execution.

“The determination of the FFT to carry out the project remains intact — its realization is indeed vital for the sustainability of the French Open, a major part of France’s sporting heritage that contributes to the international influence of France and French tennis.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: French Open, French tennis news, FTT, Roland Garros, Tennis News