Mens and Womens tennis moving to Lake Nona

[Steve A.]

Came across this within the next City of Orlando Council agenda:

The City has been awarded a grant, "Grant," from the Florida Department
of Transportation's, "FDOT's", Economic Development Transportation
Project Fund on behalf of the United States Tennis Association, "USTA",
in the amount of Two-Million Two-Hundred Forty-Six Thousand
Three-Hundred Twenty Dollars ($2,246,320.00). The Grant will be used for
constructing an entry road, "Entry Road," to the proposed USTA Facility
which is located on a sixty-three (63) acre site within the Lake Nona
DRI. The USTA facility consists of a tennis complex, including a
corporate headquarters component, administrative offices and a
collegiate tennis area with seating for twelve hundred (1200) people, to
serve as the home of the University of Central Florida's men's and
women's varsity tennis programs. Per the terms of the attached Grant
Agreement, the City will ensure that the Entry Road is constructed but
actual construction of the Entry Road will be the responsibility of Lake
Nona under the terms of a separate but related agreement between the
City and Lake Nona, "Lake Nona Agreement." FDOT will disburse qualified
reimbursement payments to the City under this Grant Agreement and City
will then pass those funds through to Lake Nona per the terms of the
Lake Nona Agreement.

 

[EngAlum98]

Saw the renderings last year. That place is going to be huge. 106 tennis courts, Stadium seating on some courts, and more.

http://www.insighteastorlando.com/recreationfitness/new-usta-tennis-center-coming-to-lake-nona/

 

[Knight_Light]

This project was actually announced last spring..as UCF Tennis probably never received that much publicity in their history.

Some threads were actually posted on this site, along with some of the renderings

Here's one of those articles from last year:

UCF Partners to Create 'New Home for American Tennis' at Lake Nona
http://today.ucf.edu/ucf-partners-create-new-home-american-tennis-lake-nona/

Here's a look at the UCF/Collegiate side of this complex:

 

[BStreak]

Sooo what happened to this??

 

[EngAlum98]

Originally posted by BStreak:
Sooo what happened to this??

This...

 

[Sir Robert Peel]

Actually the money was denied by the legislature....and before he was in office. It has been since as well, just as has dozens of other projects.

 

[Knight_Light]

Originally posted by BStreak:
Sooo what happened to this??

UCF Tennis ends up with one of the best facilities in the nation at Lake Nona while UCF saves valuable Athletic Village land that could be used one day to build a new college/minor league ballpark (Softball moves to JBF) and/or land for new lacrosse/real soccer stadium area or practice fields.

 

[BStreak]

Yes, but it off campus. That sucks.

 

[Knight_Light]

Originally posted by BStreak:
Yes, but it off campus. That sucks.

That's the only way to get usage of a world-class facility...just like UCF did with the Rosen School and Medical School.

You have to take opportunities when they arise...and this is just another one. (UCF doesn't have all the funds to build a top college, let alone a top world-class on-campus tennis facility for a non-revenue sport).

 

[aent]

Its right near the medical school campus, now if the med students want a sport to support, they'll have tennis right there without having to drive to the main campus! I know the few games I went to while I was in school, literally nobody went to the games... It was family and friends only (and me). This gives a better shot at higher attendance then that. UCF needs the money to build the next phase of our baseball stadium, its expansion has been literally half done for way too long.