Tennis Canada Unveils Plans for Modern Stadium in Montreal

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Tennis Canada announces plans to build a new center-court stadium with a retractable roof in Montreal, aimed at modernizing facilities and enhancing the National Bank Open experience.

MONTREAL — Tennis Canada has announced a significant initiative to construct a new center-court stadium featuring a retractable roof in Montreal, part of a comprehensive upgrade to its facilities at Jarry Park. This announcement comes after a thorough one-year feasibility study aimed at securing the long-term future of the National Bank Open in Montreal. The proposed development is designed to enhance the venue's capacity, increasing it to approximately 15,000 seats from the current 11,991 at the aging IGA Stadium. In addition to the main stadium, plans include the addition of up to four practice courts and a match court, according to Valérie Tétreault, the tournament director for the National Bank Open.
Tétreault emphasized the urgency of the project, stating, “It was a very important step. We’re feeling like we’re really falling behind, and that’s what we’re also told by both the ATP and the WTA. So that puts, of course, extra pressure on us.” The modernization of the facilities is seen as crucial for maintaining the tournament’s status amidst rising standards in professional tennis.
The feasibility study explored three potential avenues: renovating the existing IGA Stadium, constructing a new stadium within Jarry Park, or relocating the tournament to a different site in the city. Tétreault noted that relocating was quickly dismissed due to high costs, while the differences in renovation versus new construction were deemed “negligible.” Moving forward, Tennis Canada intends to determine the construction timeline, anticipated costs, and funding strategies for the project. Discussions with all three levels of government regarding potential financial support have already commenced.
“Conversations are going well. We’re feeling like everybody is recognizing the importance of the event in terms of the economic impact it creates, but also in terms of the sporting and social impact it creates,” Tétreault remarked, highlighting the collaborative effort to find solutions. While Tennis Canada is prepared to contribute to the financing, assistance from government bodies will also be essential.
The proposed site for the new stadium is located on an existing baseball field to the west of the practice courts, allowing the National Bank Open to proceed at its current venue during the construction phase. The new stadium is designed to operate as a three-season venue, featuring winterized facilities around a non-winterized court. The persistent need for a roof over the center court has been a topic of discussion for years, as inclement weather has frequently disrupted match schedules during the National Bank Open, which takes place annually in late July and early August.
Tétreault expressed concern that Montreal’s facilities rank “pretty much at the bottom of the list” among 1000-level tournaments, which are one tier below the prestigious Grand Slam events. In contrast, other prominent tournaments like the Cincinnati Open have made substantial investments in their facilities, with a US$260 million redevelopment completed ahead of the 2025 tournament.
While Tétreault noted that Toronto, which alternates hosting the men's and women's tournaments with Montreal each year, faces less urgency to modernize due to Sobeys Stadium being built in 2004, she acknowledged that the ATP and WTA have not issued an ultimatum regarding the tournament’s future in Montreal. However, both tours have requested a clear action plan for the modernization of facilities. “They want to be reassured that this is a priority for us, that we’re actively looking for solutions,” Tétreault stated.
For the first time, Tétreault has been asked to provide monthly updates to the ATP regarding the progress of modernization efforts. This requirement underscores the growing scrutiny on Montreal's facilities. Additionally, the National Bank Open does not currently meet the standard number of practice courts, necessitating ATP approval for the use of extra courts at the nearby Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard. In 2022, Tennis Canada signed a 30-year agreement with the ATP and WTA as part of negotiations for the tournament’s expansion into a 12-day event. Despite these efforts, Tétreault acknowledged that organizers still need to address evolving standards set forth by the professional tours.

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