On July 18th, Athletic Director Janet Cone announced plans to build a new, 4-million-dollar outdoor tennis facility on the campus of UNC Asheville.
Due to the construction of the interstate 26 connector project, Asheville’s current racquet club will be demolished. The new build is funded as part of the All In campaign and will receive funding from donor gifts, alumni, grants and corporate partners.
“The new facility is going to be a beacon for our programs, it is incredibly exciting. Both programs have proven their dedication to excellence winning championships on the court and collecting numerous academic and community service awards off it,” said head men’s tennis coach, Matt Frost.
The facility will not only benefit the Tennis teams of UNCA but serve the community in a way that this sport has not been able to previously. According to Janet Cone, community members will be able to reserve court times for lessons and play.
“With two conference champion teams, a new facility is well deserved and will hopefully help UNCA’’s rising recognition continue to grow,” said Kiera Stewart, 19-year-old freshmen on the women’s tennis team.
The facility will include six competition courts with viewing stands. Amenities include a dedicated tennis building with coach’s offices, team locker rooms, storage, a sports medicine room, and public bathrooms. Because they are going to be competition regulated courts, UNC Asheville says they plan to enter a bid to host Conference Championships. This will be a huge asset for recruiting and retaining major talent.
Many members of the UNCA community raised concerns about the 4-million-dollar price tag. Due to the courts being accessible to the community for a fee, and the possibility that the school could hold conference championships, the likelihood of making back the 4 million dollars in a timely manner is high.
“Now we have an incoming facility that matches their hard work and dedication to representing our Bulldog Nation the right way. We are incredibly grateful and cannot wait to get to compete on campus,” Frost said.
