The original National Tennis Centre in Toronto was located in the north end of York University's Keele Campus next to the Metro Toronto Track and Field Centre.

Originally built with clay courts, it was changed to Har-Tru hardcourts in time for the 1979 tournament.

By the end of the 2000s, the wooden bench seating in the main stadium and the small grounds (boxed in by Steeles Avenue on the north, parking lots to the west and south and historic Jacob Stong House and Barn to the east) were deemed too small for the growing tournament and was not suitable for tier one tennis tours.

[2] Pressure from the ATP and the WTA Tours collectively forced the building of a new site on the west end of York University.

The stadium was torn down and replaced by the Rexall Centre, located to the west of this site the following year.