Roland Garros to Get Facelift and Remain Host to French Open
February 15, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
The French Tennis Federation (FTF) has voted to keep the French Open at its traditional Roland Garros venue and renovate the existing site by expanding it and brining modern amenities to the facility. The FFT said that it had chosen the option of renovating Roland Garros, located in western Paris for more than 80 years, by making it 60 percent bigger, while preserving its historical nature. Renovations are expected to eclipse a price tag of $370 million.
“The Federation decided to stay on its original site at Porte d’Auteuil,” said the FTF. “It chose an ambitious, prestigious project resolutely looking to the future.”
The renovated Roland Garros will feature 35 outside courts, a new state-of-the-art press center and a center court with a retractable roof.
“Our ambition was to offer a project with a real future and of a very high quality,” said FFT President Jean Gachassin. “To improve the reception and the comfort of the players and spectators.”
