Games postponed, even postponed: The first two days of the National Bank Open were interrupted by rain.
• Also read: “Serena did her part”
Enough to fuel the eternal debate about installing a roof over the central court to counteract the unpredictable weather that can give tennis tournament organizers a real headache.
However, this project, which the head of the National Bank Open has toyed with for so long, was well advanced. But a little over two years ago everything was turned upside down.
“All the threads were pretty much tied with the three levels of government on the eve of the pandemic,” Eugène Lapierre explained in an interview with the Journal. We were about to achieve something.
“We also have to keep in mind that we lost a lot of money to the pandemic and that’s where we’re in the process of building back up. So we’re putting that on hold.
“It is certain that our priorities lie elsewhere, but we certainly haven’t given up hope of an indoor stadium. »
Twice as expensive?
COVID-19 is also to blame, and Lapierre regrets that the cost estimates at the time are no longer the same.
“We could have continued the exercise from the start, he says, and the price to pay might have doubled. But if so, that’s another question to ask. »
Climatic changes
In 2019, the investment required to install this coveted property was estimated at around $70 million.
“Governments have invested money and so have we,” Lapierre said. There you have to go back to consult her and ask her some more…
“All this to say that we are not ready to see this. We’re not taking it off the radar and we’re seeing just how useful it can be again this year.
“We see it with climate change, he continues, that all sorts of things are going to happen in the future. One day it will probably be a…must do. »
No duty
But for now, a roof is not required by professional tennis authorities.
“The ATP is not in a position to force that on tournaments at the moment,” says Lapierre. But we wanted to do it to stand out on the international stage. Bad weather is more common.
“We’ve been living in cool weather in Montreal for the past two days, but we can’t rule out heat waves. Spectators also deserve some shade. Otherwise hail or torrential rain can also occur. »
Rare exceptions
Of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments, including Montreal, few exceptions have the privilege of having an indoor stadium.
“Madrid and Shanghai are the only two,” recalls Lapierre. Paris too, but it’s an indoor tournament. Monaco will never have one because the site is built on the edge of a cliff.
“Others like Indian Wells and Miami don’t need it. But I know that Rome wants a roof like ours. »
The 2010 tournament is a bad memory as no game was presented on Saturday and Sunday, forcing the semi-finals and final to be postponed to Monday.