Spectator wrote:

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Promise this is the last time I mention it, but if you get the chance, do take a look at the live stream of the French tournament this week. It's like watching a Tour event: great venue (from the looks of it), lights, DJ (if you like that kind of thing - I don't, but ...), masses of applause at key points. They know how to do it. The tennis isn't bad either. I've just been watching Mannarino and Khachanov - a very good standard.

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Over 18,000 spectators during the week by their account. There's a five man tournament committee running the event four of whom appear to come from tennis/sports clubs within that particular department of France (Vendee) and one from their regional/departmental equivalent of Sport England. Several local sponsors including a bank, hypermarket, motor vehicle group appear to be funding the tournament along with the Vendee department itself. How much of the costs or the prizes the FFT put up isn't stated.  I imagine the local media too play a big part. 

It certainly doesn't look like a British event where the very centrist LTA descends from HQ, takes over a facility (if they don't own it already) and pushes the locals aside. This appears very much planned from the ground up, presumably with the support of the FFT in an enabling role. Perhaps Coup Droit can shed more light on these aspects.