Keeping balls on the court (literally)

The center court at Sobeys Stadium has something a little extra in its base: a recipe for sustainability.

In partnership with Tennis Canada and RecycledBalls, Laykold has repurposed balls collected from 2022 event and recycled them within the brand-new centre court surface at Sobeys Stadium ahead of the 2023 National Bank Open in Toronto.

With approximately 325 million tennis balls worldwide ending up in landfill, the step marks an important one in the sustainability of the tournament and the game.

Last year’s balls make this year’s courts at the National Bank Open, Canada

The statistics are striking. Each year approximately 325 million tennis balls worldwide, including 125 million in the U.S. alone, end up in landfill. This is an environmental challenge the sport must face. Laykold is the only court brand to use recycled balls in its court surfaces. Learn more about how last year’s balls have become this year’s Centre Court at the National Bank Open, Canada.

Meet Daniel Thorpe, Tennis Canada and Sobeys Stadium director

In the countdown to this year’s National Bank Open, Canada, we caught up with Tennis Canada and Sobeys Stadium director Daniel Thorpe to find out how the tournament is shaping up. From ensuring tournament readiness to rebuilding courts with recycled balls, meet the stadium director who is reimagining the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

Read the interview