New York City being transformed into Paris for ‘Roland-Garros in the City’ campaign
New York City will soon get a decidedly French flair, becoming the City of Light this June when ‘Roland-Garros in the City’ arrives in time for the famed French Open finals, June 9-11. The campaign, created by the French Tennis Federation (Federation Française de Tennis - FFT), organizers of the world’s premier clay court event, Roland-Garros (known as The French Open) will capture the excitement of the French Open with the live transmission of the matches of the men and women semi-finals and finals on a big screen in Brookfield Place Waterfront Plaza in lower Manhattan’s Battery Park City, free for all to watch.
Roland-Garros in the City event in Korea
The tennis transformation is being done in partnership with Swiss watch brand Longines and apparel company Lacoste, and will give New Yorkers the opportunity to experience the feel of Paris. Plus, a real, full size red clay court, in the tradition of Roland-Garros, will be the focal point, offering free classes and recreation for the general public.
Roland-Garros matches will be shown on the giant screen at the Brookfield Place Waterfront Plaza daily from 9am-6pm, starting on Monday, June 5.
In the lead-up to ‘Roland-Garros in the City’, two French food trucks will travel around New York from June 3-8, offering free ice cream, information about the event and an opportunity to watch the matches. The waterfront space will feature a historic gallery depicting images and the stories behind the classic Roland-Garros posters – created by some of the world’s most famous artists including Joan Miro and New York-based artist Viz Muniz, the 2017 Roland-Garros poster artist. In addition, an interactive replica of the famous Bridge of Locks along the Seine will encourage lovers to lock their love in metal throughout the event.
Other activities include Longines’ ‘Smash Corner’ at which players can test the speed of their serves, a Lacoste Boutique, photo activation and a Kid Zone.
Other 'Roland-Garros in the City' events have been held around the world, including in Brazil, Korea and China.