Funny atmosphere at the Accor Arena. The Parisian venue is hosting its 38th “Bercy” tournament this week… which is likely to be the second-to-last on the banks of the Seine in eastern Paris. The lease between the former POPB and the French Tennis Federation is set to expire in 2025, and even though negotiations are not entirely finalized, Paris La Défense Arena (located in Nanterre, Hauts-de-Seine) is preparing to take over. The announcement is expected to be made in December.
At the Accor Arena and the Paris City Hall, there is a mix of disappointment, incomprehension, and above all annoyance. Tired of hearing that the venue in the 12th arrondissement does not meet the demanding specifications now required by the ATP for Masters 1000 tournaments, the category of events just below Grand Slams.
“There is an emotional connection between the Arena and the tournament since 1986,” explains Nicolas Dupeux, the CEO of the Accor Arena. “Tennis has evolved, and so have we. We are fully aware of the standards required by the ATP, and we have been given a very clear deadline (2025) by the French Tennis Federation to comply with the new rules because there will no longer be any exceptions (especially regarding the annex courts, which have ceilings that are too low).”
Last year, the ATP put pressure on the French Tennis Federation, which in turn imposed it on Bercy. “In the spring, we made a proposal based on three objectives,” says Nicolas Dupeux. “Meeting the requirements in terms of the number of courts, heights, and dimensions, evolving the positioning as a tennis festival in the Arena with the Central ‘cauldron’ and around with the Bercy Park where the annex courts would be located (including a consideration by the municipality of the protected Canyoneaustrate fountain and a redevelopment of the aging skate park), and organizing many activities in the city with the city hall.”
The project has been refined through changes to the specifications and now only falls short in one aspect, the seating capacity of an annex court (1,950 instead of the desired 2,500). “When we presented it (with Pierre Rabadan, Deputy Mayor for Sports of the City of Paris), we received congratulations and enthusiasm from the federation,” he continues. “And then, no more information. And we were very surprised to discover that the French Tennis Federation had almost made its decision. We hear or read that it’s because our venue does not meet the standards. That’s false. It doesn’t today, but it will after 2025.”
The announcement will be made in a few days, but the Accor Arena has been ranked as the second-best venue in the world. “When you’re just behind Madison Square Garden (in New York), you can’t say that you’re not up to standard,” says Nicolas Dupeux. The French Tennis Federation is free to make its choices within the framework of the call for bids. But it seems to have lacked a bit of elegance…
“We even went beyond their expectations in terms of feasibility,” adds Pierre Rabadan. “And I made it clear how much, for me, tennis in Paris relied on two pillars, Roland-Garros and the Rolex Paris Masters. Especially since the event has found its economic model, with a record attendance last year (164,000 spectators, which is expected to be beaten this year). So it’s a format that works. But since then, no more news… So we wonder. The federation can change its venue or strategy, but let’s not pretend that it’s because we didn’t react.”
Aside from the “emotional” aspect, which is increasingly succumbing to the lure of the wallet, the Accor Arena would not suffer economically from losing the competition. “Beyond the operating days, with the setup, the Rolex Paris Masters occupies the venue for quite a long period at a time when there are many concerts and tours,” says Nicolas Dupeux. “We know how to be disruptive, attractive, we have brought the NBA, UFC, and the League of Legends World Championship. So we know how to bounce back. But we hope that this story ingrained in our DNA will not end after 39 years. We are open to discussing it.”
The two men watch the matches of the 2023 edition with the ambivalent feeling of enjoying matches that will soon be played elsewhere. “We presented all the opportunities to continue the tournament at Bercy, so it’s frustrating,” says Pierre Rabadan. “Our proposal meets expectations. If the French Tennis Federation wants to leave because they have financial guarantees or something, fine, but they will also have to bear the consequences.”
