National Bank Open
At Advanced Polymer Technology, we are proud that Laykold, our world-class acrylic hard-court system, has been trusted on some of the sport’s biggest stages, including Toronto’s National Bank Open. In 2023, the centre court at Sobeys Stadium debuted a new Laykold surface with a sustainability twist: it incorporated recycled tennis balls collected from the prior year’s event, an industry first that blended elite performance with tangible environmental impact.
Why Laykold Works for Toronto’s Marquee Event
The National Bank Open is staged at Sobeys Stadium on York University’s campus, a multi-court hard-court complex that hosts some of the world’s best players every August. Consistent speed, traction, and ball response across the grounds are mission-critical for fair competition and a premium broadcast experience. Laykold is engineered for exactly that: precise surface pace, reliable footing, and uniform playability from show court to outer courts. It is the same family of surfaces trusted by other blue-chip tournaments – most famously, the US Open, which selected Laykold in 2020.
Laykold systems from Advanced Polymer Technology are built as layered, site-tuned assemblies. Depending on performance goals, we can add cushioning components to increase player comfort and reduce peak impact forces without compromising pace. For a summer event in Toronto, that means a surface that stays stable under heat, delivers dependable grip for sudden changes of direction, and maintains consistent bounce through long match days, qualities that matter to athletes, officials, and broadcasters alike.
Sustainability Engineered In
That 2023 centre-court resurfacing at Sobeys Stadium showcased how performance and sustainability can co-exist. Working with Tennis Canada and RecycleBalls, Laykold repurposed used tennis balls into the new court build, diverting material that would otherwise head to landfill, a real issue when major events can go through tens of thousands of balls. Because Laykold is manufactured by us at Advanced Polymer Technology (an ISO 14001-certified environmental management manufacturer), the program is aligned with a broader, auditable sustainability framework rather than a one-off gesture. The outcome: a show court with elite play characteristics and a smaller environmental footprint.
Consistency Across the Venue
Sobeys Stadium is a 12,500-seat centre court surrounded by multiple match and practice courts. Delivering a uniform player experience across this footprint is essential, and it is a hallmark of Laykold installs at major venues worldwide. From base prep through topcoat, our system emphasizes pace precision measured in decimal points, color stability under UV, and a texture profile that preserves traction without creating abrasive hotspots. The result is the kind of “same wherever you play” confidence athletes demand when the margins are razor-thin.
Built for Broadcast and the Fan Experience
Hard-court tennis is as much a viewing experience as it is a playing surface. Laykold’s colorants and finish options are optimized for ball visibility on camera and in-stadium, helping produce crisp contrasts under variable lighting conditions like day, dusk, and under the lights. That, coupled with uniform pace and bounce, contributes to cleaner rallies, fewer footing surprises, and a better spectacle for the fans in the stands at Toronto and those watching worldwide.
What You Can Expect From a Laykold Tennis Court
- Pace precision & uniformity: ITF-classified systems tuned to target speeds, replicated across every court on site.
- Athlete-centric comfort: Optional Cushion layers to temper impact while preserving responsiveness and speed.
- All-weather reliability: Acrylic chemistry and textures designed for traction and durability through heat, sun, and sudden showers.
- Sustainability leadership: ISO 14001-certified manufacturing and proven recycling integrations – like the National Bank Open centre-court surfacing using reclaimed balls.
Long lasting and UV stable colors
Pace precision measured in decimal points and consistent across the full facility
Force reduction courts maintain 98% of their force reduction for 10+ years
Bring Laykold Performance to Your Facility
The 2023 National Bank Open centre-court project in Toronto demonstrated exactly what is possible when elite performance meets innovative materials like Laykold tennis court surfacing and disciplined execution from Advanced Polymer Technology. If you would like that level of predictability and polish on your courts, we would love to work with you. Whether you manage a tournament venue, university complex, municipal facility, or a private club, our team can create a Laykold system that matches your pace targets, comfort profile, climate, and budget.
Contact us at Advanced Polymer Technology to discuss Laykold specifications, colorways, cushion options, and more for your next resurfacing or new construction.
Bring Laykold Performance to Your Facility
The 2023 National Bank Open centre-court project in Toronto demonstrated exactly what is possible when elite performance meets innovative materials like Laykold tennis court surfacing and disciplined execution from Advanced Polymer Technology. If you would like that level of predictability and polish on your courts, we would love to work with you. Whether you manage a tournament venue, university complex, municipal facility, or a private club, our team can create a Laykold system that matches your pace targets, comfort profile, climate, and budget.
Contact us at Advanced Polymer Technology to discuss Laykold specifications, colorways, cushion options, and more for your next resurfacing or new construction.