Record National Bank Open attendance highlights tennis stadium expansion controversy
Tennis Canada says its current stadium court is obsolete, and no longer meets the standards of other professional tournaments.
During his post-match speech at the National Bank Open, American tennis star Brandon Nakashima expressed his preference for Montreal over Toronto, stating that Montreal's fans are truly special. Tennis Canada, the governing body of tennis in Canada, has been working on revitalizing IGA Stadium, a facility that is considered obsolete and unable to meet the standards of other professional tournaments.
To address this issue, Tennis Canada plans to build new courts and install a retractable roof, but this expansion plan threatens to tear up a recreational baseball diamond in Jarry Park, which has sparked outrage among local residents.
Didier Delfolie-Noulin, a member of the citizen group Jarry Park Common Front, said that if Tennis Canada wants to expand, it should find another location rather than disrupting their neighborhood. The soccer stadium is a disadvantaged area in Montreal, and Delfolie-Noulin emphasized that tearing up the baseball diamond would further limit the opportunities for the residents in the region.
Lapierre, a consultant for Tennis Canada, argued that the expansion is not solely about hosting the National Bank Open but also about improving tennis facilities for the entire city.
According to a report by Tennis Canada in May, over six million Canadians played tennis in 2025, a significant increase of over one million from 2023. The report also revealed that 18% of people living in Quebec consider themselves frequent players, meaning they play more than 20 times a year. The sport's popularity is on the rise, with Canadian athletes making a name for themselves at the highest levels of tennis.
Marc-André Fourtier, a nearby resident, expressed his support for both the expansion plan and the continued growth of the National Bank Open in Montreal. The community is divided on the issue, and Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada called for Tennis Canada to conduct consultations with the residents. Lapierre confirmed that Tennis Canada is committed to these consultations but assured them that the dynamic of Jarry Park will remain unchanged.
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