Roland Garros To Renovate And Build

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 18th October 2013

Roland Garros To Renovate And Build

epa03240509 A ball boy holds tennis balls during first round action for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 29 May 2012. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

The planning process to expand Roland Garros, the site of the French Open, has been long, laborious and fraught with problems. But now the Administrative Court of Paris has finally given the go ahead to the French Tennis Federation (FFT) for their estimated 340 million euros (about $437 million) project.

In March, the planned renovation of Roland Garros was put on hold after the Paris Tribunal sided with local residents who complained the development could harm the environment.

Environmentalists, wary that the expansion could affect the neighboring Bois de Boulogne and Botanical Gardens, were vehemently against the plans that were formally announced in May 2013, including a complete rebuild of the central Philippe Chatrier court on its existing foundations with a retractable roof and floodlights.

In addition there will be a new stadium court at Porte d’Auteuil, built below ground level, with greenhouses of the Botanical Gardens surrounding it on all four sides.

The historic Bull Ring or Court No.1, will be demolished but the grounds of Roland Garros will be expanded from approximately 21 acres (8.5 hectares) to about 33.8 acres (13.5 hectares).

When the decision to remain at Roland Garros, rather than move to alternative sites in Versailles, Marne-le-Vallée close to Euro Disney or the northern suburb of Gonesse, Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe publicly dismissed concerns that the would damage the botanical garden, saying it “will not destroy one single plant or one single flower.”

The FFT welcomed Thursday’s ruling with “great satisfaction.” A statement issued said: “The FFT has the right to build the court it had intended to build in the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil.”

The expansion of Roland Garros is scheduled to be completed in 2017 but the site will remain the smallest of the four Grand Slam venues.

FFT president Jean Gachassin did not mince his words when he said earlier this year: “To save the tournament, we have to be able to make this project a reality.

“By save it, I mean that without this project, we’re going to be in competition with other countries who want to do the same thing. I know we are being threatened by certain regions of the world like Asia, or a Qatar, who has lots of money and want to build big stadiums. But there won’t be the soul and the history, just lots of money.”

Topics: 10sballs, French Tennis Federation, Roland Garros, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

ShootingTennis says:

October 18, 2013 at 7:33 am

RT @10sBalls_com: Roland Garros To Renovate And Build: The planning process to expand Roland Garros, the site of the Fren… http://t.co/et…