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Roland-Garros Shifts Gears, Becoming Multi-Sport Hub Beyond Tennis Grand Slam
Paris, France – roland-Garros, traditionally synonymous with world-class tennis, is deliberately evolving into a year-round multi-sport venue, strategically diversifying its event calendar to bolster profitability and capitalize on newly enhanced infrastructure. The shift comes as Paris benefits from a surge in high-level sporting facilities spurred by preparations for the Olympic Games.
The strategy involves carefully selecting events, prioritizing those aligning with the venue’s capabilities and appealing to new audiences. Recent additions include hosting Premier Padel‘s Paris Major in the first half of September, an event slated for annual recurrence.
According to Guillaume Gouze, co-director of the stadium manager diploma at the Center for Sports Law and Economics in Limoges, arenas require 90 to 110 dates annually to achieve profitability, considerably more than the roughly 20-30 dates typical for stadiums. ”There is every interest in developing to ensure the profitability of the place, making it more economically viable or repaying outstanding loans, or even balancing the cost and expenses of operation and renovation,” Gouze explained.
Roland-Garros has benefited from over €350 million in renovations,positioning it among Europe’s benchmark venues like the Adidas Arena and Paris la Défense Arena,as noted by Gouze: “Paris has caught up with benchmark venues in Europe.”
While the French Tennis Federation benefits from the financial windfall of hosting a Grand Slam tournament,the broader goal is to leverage the upgraded facilities. however, Stéphane Morel, a key figure at Roland-Garros, clarifies the venue won’t pursue indiscriminate diversification. “We do not intend to be an annex to the Parisian arenas or a club for matches all year round. We are also not intended to host concerts,” Morel stated, citing acoustic concerns and potential resident objections. “Our local residents might also be offended.”
Morel affirmed that the core identity of Roland-Garros remains rooted in sport, with a long-term aspiration to introduce new audiences to tennis through exposure to other events. “Welcoming new people who discover the stadium and therefore, by capillary action, tennis, is not the main objective. But a long-term wish, why not?” he said.
