The FFT on Monday formalized the move of the Masters 1000 from Paris, which will be held at the Paris La Défense Arena from 2025. The lease was established for ten years. In tennis mode the arena will be presented with five courts, separated by acoustic curtains, with 16,000 seats in the middle, three annex courts and a training court.
“Our ability to have everything in one in French Manhattan appealed to FFTFrédéric Longupe, president of Paris La Defense Arena, explains. We have the largest indoor room in Europe (45,000 locations). It has very strong multi-functionality. We are going to host the Olympic swimming games with two 50 meter pools, which represent 5,000 tonnes of water, we are doing concerts, conventions, supercross etc. For tennis, we will have the possibility of putting five courts on a single platform, separated by two acoustic curtains, for a total of 23,000 seats, compared to 16,800 seats today at the Accor Arena. An acoustic curtain will separate the central court from the practice court and another practice court from the three annex courts. We already tested these curtains during Foncia’s 50th anniversary convention, with a dinner on one side and a Black Eyed Peas concert on the other, and everyone was able to eat in peace! »
“It was normal for us to question ourselves”
Giles Moreton, President of the FFT
The question of leaving the Accor Arena in Bercy, formerly POPB, which the event has used since its formation in 1986. “Evolution of Obstacles”As FFT president Gilles Moreton often recalled, that prompted reflection within the French federation that held the Parisian Masters 1000.
“We have tapped into the federal logic of securing the tournament in an international context conducive to tennis.Giles Moreton is related. The structural standards established by the ATP from 2022 were designed to enhance the quality of the tournament. All Masters 1000 have thought about improving their infrastructure. It was logical that we should question ourselves. The city of Paris should be congratulated for bringing the tournament to where it is now. But reform was needed. Accor Arena’s standards risk being a problem. We studied extension at Bercy. Unfortunately the terms proposed did not exactly correspond to what was required. »
Spaces for the annex court at the Accor Arena are very tight
The ATP highlighted some shortcomings, especially in terms of ticketing and shows in the main hall, despite the great successes of the last editions, especially with very cramped venues for the annex courts and the relocated training grounds.
The Masters 1000 in Paris, the only indoor tournament of its category, had until then benefited from an exemption granted annually by the ATP, and was at risk of losing this status, an example experienced by the Hamburg tournament.
The 2025 edition of the Rolex Paris Masters at Paris La Défense Arena will also allow the organization of four additional matches throughout the tournament with 28 doubles teams compared to 24 today and an optimized transition from the “4+2” format (4 matches during the day and 2 evening matches) to “3+2”. ” in the middle of the format, to avoid a late start to the match and thus respect the fairness of the competition.
“More global and more qualitative production”
Cedric Piolin, Tournament Director
“We were not up to the required standards in relation to the prestige of the eventsays tournament director Cedric Piolin. Henceforth, we will have the necessary perspective and height to have a more global and qualitative product. »
“France is a major professional tennis nation and today’s announcement (Monday) comes to consolidate one of our biggest meetings on the ATP circuit. We are always looking for opportunities to grow our tournaments and improve the experience for our players and more importantly the public. The move to Paris La Défense Arena is great news for the FFT and Rolex Paris Masters, which will be able to continue its growth on the international scene.concluded ATP President Andrea Gaudenzi.
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