//http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/tennis/6797741/__Roland_Garros_denkt_aan_verhuizen__.html?p=23,1
//http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8580652.stm
One is in dutch and one is in english.
Marne-La-Vallee is mentioned as an option for re-locating Roland Garros, one of the 4 grandslam tournaments in tennis, near Disneyland Paris.
QuoteThe French Open could be forced into a "heartbreaking" move away from Paris in the next few years due to problems with the infrastructure at Roland Garros.....
But while the various extension plans have not been completely dismissed, organisers are now considering four possible new locations in the Paris suburbs, all over 15 kms away from the capital, including Versailles and Disneyland Paris.
What do you guys think?
IMHO it could work great. The combination of checking out some matches with the family and afterwards entering Disneyland for some magical moments doens't sound to bad to me.
From een business point of view a nice option and a nice combo option for families :thumbs:
Okay, maybe this would be too much, but for the fun in this news ;)
(//http://thetennistimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/disney-mickey-mouse-tennis.jpg)
(//http://thetennistimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/disney-tennis-gael-monfils.jpg)
note: if in wrong section, Kristof/Anthony, pls move :)
If this went ahead maybe Disney would creat a european [strike:3m00smfx]Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex[/strike:3m00smfx] ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex * ;)
Yes, exactly :)
I don't know if this will fit the european crowd the same as the US thou?
They are somewhat more overall sportminded and like to visit this kind of stuff more i think.
There was a soccer school, sadly this was closed.
Maybe they shouldn't have picked just one team as main name, Manchester United Soccer School?
[youtube:13ckr2k3]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtohFCZIjGA[/youtube:13ckr2k3]
What happend to this?
Like the Formula 1 idea, it's hard to find a proper brief of what's happening with this, but Marne-la-Vallée's bid for the French tennis tournament is definitely real and certainly seems to be supported by everyone involved (unlike the crazy F1 track).
An article in French here: http://dlrptimes.over-blog.fr/article-r ... 28522.html (http://dlrptimes.over-blog.fr/article-roland-garros-va-t-il-demenager-a-disneyland-58628522.html%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
And now several images of the proposed location, which appears to be just next to the autoroute exit - across the DLP entrance road from Golf Disneyland and across the motorway from Davy Crockett.
(//http://a31.idata.over-blog.com/2/33/94/76/12/rgdisney.jpg)
(//http://a6.idata.over-blog.com/2/33/94/76/12/Marne-la-Vallee-se-met-au-tennis_actus.jpg)
(//http://marnelavallee.typepad.com/.a/6a0133f34bdd01970b0133f4c4eedf970b-450wi)
Looks great to me. But if you were the same in thinking - so it's not going in Val d'Europe town itself then? how will people get there from the RER station..? a location next to the autoroute doesn't seem great for public transport - ahaa, there's a mention of a tramway in there! A Val d'Europe tram! Could this possibly extend from DLP's RER/TGV station and wind its way all the way down past this tennis complex to the Nature Villages? And up the other way towards Charles de Gaulle, finally giving DLP a proper non-TGV link to the airport? There's speculation...
This could be fantastic! :thumbs:
Wow. Well yes, unlike the Formula 1 idea, a pie that thankfully stayed in the sky, I can support this too. I actually think it might be nice to have a little something other than Disney and outlet shopping as a draw to the area, and this wouldn't just be anything, either; look at that lovely stadium architecture. And yuppies would be a nice addition to Disney's customer base. They have money, they're not known for violence or vandalism and they support high-end shops and restaurants. Bring on the Lacoste crowd, I say.
Although wouldn't that put a rather enormous strain on the RER/TGV station during tennis season? (Alternatively, it could finally provide the crowds the station was built for. I'm imagining here that Disney may have coaxed the French government to build all that lovely infrastructure with slightly inflated numbers compared to those the resort and the station would actually see. But then again there are plans for an extension, so I'm probably wrong.)
A tram would be great indeed, although if it has to make its way to Charles de Gaulle it would probably have to be light rail rather than a regular tram. In any case, the French government generously funds tram projects all over the country, so if they clutch on to this right it might be Euro Disney's big chance at a transportation system better than buses and cheaper than a monorail. I hope they think of routing it through the third park area. It would also make up for Marne-la-Vallée being left out of the "Grand Huit" plans for the new Paris rapid transportation system...
But surely it's also the most attractive choice for the Roland Garros people. Marne-la-Vallée can provide, besides all that wonderful public transportation, 17,000 hotel rooms, immediate access onto the A4 autoroute, immense parking facilities, a myriad of restaurants and shops... I doubt Versailles can match all that.
All looks good. If it has got a tram, which goes all the way to Davy Crockett, it will no doubt produce a huge boost to Davy Crockett and the Nature Villages, as I expect many don't want to either bring their car or go on the shuttle buses to get to and from DLP.
It looks fine. As long as the Formula 1 will not come to DLRP I'm happy. Maybe Disney could use the opportunity to build a sports center like the ESPN World Of Sports in Florida.
Quote from: "pussinboots"I actually think it might be nice to have a little something other than Disney and outlet shopping as a draw to the area, and this wouldn't just be anything, either; look at that lovely stadium architecture.
Quote from: "dagobert"It looks fine. As long as the Formula 1 will not come to DLRP I'm happy. Maybe Disney could use the opportunity to build a sports center like the ESPN World Of Sports in Florida.
Yeah, I was so surprised when I saw these plans. Lovely looking stadiums, all that nice landscaped space, pleasant streets... it's a really strong bid and could be a big boost for the resort. The ESPN World of Sports idea is great - the golf course isn't far away, for a start.
Quote from: "pussinboots"A tram would be great indeed, although if it has to make its way to Charles de Gaulle it would probably have to be light rail rather than a regular tram.
Yes, we have several examples over here with street-running "trams" which then zip onto faster railway-style track. Although thinking about it again, if they were going to run a couple of new tracks up to Charles de Gaulle from Disneyland I'd much prefer it to be a simple extension of the RER line. It'd surely be far more beneficial for everyone in the east of Paris, being able to continue straight through Marne la Vallée. Why did they never think about a separate fixed rail link when the TGV line was being built?
I've just been trying to imagine the route of a tram through the resort area (is it obvious I'm more excited about that than the tennis?) and can't really come to any conclusion. Include the 3rd park or Magny-le-Hongre and you have to cut right across to Val d'Europe. Include Bailly-Romainvilliers and it's awkward to fit in Serris. Presumably these towns would be included? I know they used to be country villages (and still almost are), but I'd find it annoying living there and having to get an awful pink bus just to reach the end of the RER line.
Well, all well and good but have the sneaky suspicion that Disney hotel prices might go through the roof while the tournament is on. They are expensive enough as they are.
http://www.lefigaro.fr/tennis/2010/11/0 ... n-part.php (http://www.lefigaro.fr/tennis/2010/11/04/02004-20101104ARTSPO00593-roland-garros-on-reste-ou-on-part.php%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
People seem to agree that Marne-la-Vallée would be the most obvious choice. It's almost like they threw in Gonesse for instance to make it a fair fight.
It's looking good for Marne-la-Vallée. The video is interesting:
[youtube:1dcu3ppm]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXZY1OXJHCc[/youtube:1dcu3ppm]
Also reveals the route they're looking at for the tramway, confirming it would carry on southwards into the Nature Villages/Davy Crockett area.
(//http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2803/tramway.jpg)
Could we see a grassy trambahn right down the length of the DLP access road? Following that straight route would also allow for stops at Golf Disneyland, the 3rd park... it would really open up the rest of the resort area, with something more sustainable than shuttle buses. I wonder how much this is a Disney thing or a Val d'Europe town council thing?
That is exciting! First stop; Disney Village-Gare RER/TGV, second stop; third park and new hotel area (also handy for the Newport Bay Club), third stop; Golf Disneyland, fourth stop; Roland Garros, final stop: Davy Crockett Ranch. And they'll undoubtedly get the Roland Garros people to foot most of the bill. Disney wouldn't believe their luck.
By the way, just out of curiosity, why "trambahn?" Is it because the French have ruined the meaning of "tramway" by using it to designate the actual tramcars? Haha.
Oh, I've just heard trambahn used in the UK for places where the rails are next to or between the road. We do love things that sound continental, never mind we probably did that first before ripping them up when everyone got cars.
Fantasy route map time! Sorry, couldn't resist. http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9871/tramway2.jpg (http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9871/tramway2.jpg%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
Strangely there are several empty spaces alongside some of the area's roads, and a complete empty bridge over the railway lines along Avenue Hergé. Was that road originally planned to be a dual carriageway? It'd be great repurposed as a tram line.
Great news. A tramway is a good choice to connect the tennis centre with the Disney resort. A few weeks ago I have seen a documentation on Eurosport about Roland Garros going green. So maybe we will see the first eco friendly tennis court and public transport will definately contribute to this.
I really hope this comes true and maybe WDI will be contacted to help to plan the site, although I don't think so. It would be great if the new Roland Garros will be a little bit like the ESPN World of Sports at WDW with other sports venues, shops and restaurants.
SO hopefully Roland Garros really moves to Disney.
Quote from: "Anthony"Oh, I've just heard trambahn used in the UK for places where the rails are next to or between the road. We do love things that sound continental, never mind we probably did that first before ripping them up when everyone got cars.
Fantasy route map time! Sorry, couldn't resist. http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9871/tramway2.jpg (http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9871/tramway2.jpg%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
Strangely there are several empty spaces alongside some of the area's roads, and a complete empty bridge over the railway lines along Avenue Hergé. Was that road originally planned to be a dual carriageway? It'd be great repurposed as a tram line.
Oh I forgot about the new convention hotels. See, it all fits. Your Y-route is very clever, bypassing the obvious stretch to the new station entrance, and would link Val d'Europe to the rest of the area in addition to the RER-link to the esplanade. It seems that you think adding stops for the existing hotels would slow things down too much? Like the way the Paris Métro has twelve stops on a stretch of track where the London Underground has two, making it generally faster to walk in Paris.
The name should be interesting. (Very important.) DisneyTram or DisneyWay or something is out of the question of course, but there's nothing zippy about "Val d'Europe." ValVAL? ValTram?
Did I miss something? They are planning new convention hotels at the new tennis center?
Anthony your map is great, hopefully it turns out that way.
I know it will not happen, but a monorail would be great, especial when it also connects a 3rd themepark or a waterpark in the future.
I was talking about the new hotels and convention centers planned for the patch of land between the Newport Bay Club and the railways. They're right on the route.
Quote from: "pussinboots"I was talking about the new hotels and convention centers planned for the patch of land between the Newport Bay Club and the railways. They're right on the route.
Thanks a lot for making that clear. Do you know if there will be hotels at Roland Garros, because I can't imagine that all guests will stay in Disney hotels and in the associated hotels.
I think the project looks promising.
I don't think they've announced any plans for new hotels, although they'd undoubtedly be built one way or another. All the press releases tout the 10,000 existing rooms in the area and the planned 7,000 extra accommodations at the Villages Nature.
Quote from: "pussinboots"Oh I forgot about the new convention hotels. See, it all fits. Your Y-route is very clever, bypassing the obvious stretch to the new station entrance, and would link Val d'Europe to the rest of the area in addition to the RER-link to the esplanade. It seems that you think adding stops for the existing hotels would slow things down too much? Like the way the Paris Métro has twelve stops on a stretch of track where the London Underground has two, making it generally faster to walk in Paris.
The name should be interesting. (Very important.) DisneyTram or DisneyWay or something is out of the question of course, but there's nothing zippy about "Val d'Europe." ValVAL? ValTram?
Yes, all of this is why I'm curious whose project it actually is or how much power Disney will have. If it's a general bit of local transport, stops for every hotel might be a bit much, and the whole branding/experience would be very mundane. It'd hardly be our version of the Disneyland Monorail. The pink and yellow buses at DLP are currently very separate, you probably can be living in Val d'Europe but feel a world away from all the mad tourists at Disneyland.
The route is difficult too, and why I was talking a few weeks ago about whether it would serve Serris/Bailly or Val d'Europe town centre. It's very difficult to link all those together, but they probably should be linked together. I did originally draw a single straight line right up to that future TGV entrance, but if you put a tram stop opposite the IMAX then the normal public/tennis spectators will have to cross over Disneyland guests to get to the RER station, which is where most of them will probably come from. And there is that nice patch of spare grass next to the current bus terminals, perfect size for a tram stop. But then the second line turns Val d'Europe in a proper little European city, with trams running through the streets. You could actually then tell Roland Garros visitors to alight at Val d'Europe and catch the tram from there, making things easier at Disneyland RER on match days.
I'm surprised that Paris' tramways don't have some kind of three letter acronym like RER, TGV. France normally loves those and "tramway" doesn't sound very French. Maybe just "le VAL", I was going to suggest VDE but that sounds more like a disease...
That's another very good point about the people transferring all over the esplanade. My plan would have caused a horrible gridlock situation. (See, that's why in a post-apocalyptic scenario in which you and I are the only people left not infected by the brain-eating virus that swept away most of mankind, you would be in charge of logistics.)
But yes, whose project is this anyway? I suppose that with almost the entire project being in the interest of private companies (Disney, Roland Garros and most likely the Villages Nature people), we're looking at a privately funded, outsourced, free service in the genre of the Pep's hotel shuttles. But then if you serve Val d'Europe and Bailly-Romainvilliers, you're looking at public transport, no? Which in France by happenstance usually means government funding that cities in other nations can only dream of. It's why Lille has a driverless metro and Birmingham has a rickety tram line. Although I have no idea what the current relationship is between Disney and the French government in that area. It's been a while after all since they sat down and said, "Alright, we'll agree to a TGV station in the middle of our resort, but you have to promise to put two little turrets on top to make it blend in!"
But it probably wouldn't be "our Monorail," no. And I'm sure the Roland Garros people would object to any sparkle-based liveries or old-timey streetcar looks Disney would have employed if it had been their project alone. But who cares, really? We're not going to get a monorail. Anything that's not a bus would delight me at this point.
I was just looking closer at the latest Villages Nature concept again, and what's that you see underneath the balloon and left a bit, to the right of Davy Crockett Ranch?
(//http://www.valdeurope.com/images/stories/projets/i-villages-naturevn.jpg)
A rather nice looking traditional station canopy! So there's hope there that even if it's a public project it'll have a few fanciful Val d'Europe-style trimmings on top.
Its not happening :cry:
//http://www.france24.com/en/20110213-roland-garros-wins-battle-keep-french-open
What a shame! All aboard the bumpy shuttle bus to Les Villages Nature, then...