Baylor Unveils New Tennis Center to Rave Reviews
4/30/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 30, 2001
"This facility is one of the best in the country, if not the best. It is a credit to Baylor because this facility promotes college tennis in a really great way. I don't know how they could have done any better."
- Oklahoma women's head coach Mark Johnson
Such were the accolades as Baylor University unveiled the newest addition to the school's athletic facilities on a grand scale April 26-29. The Baylor Tennis Center opened to rave reviews as the site for the 2001 Big 12 Men's and Women's Tennis Championships.
"This is the best college tennis facility and sports complex I have seen," Texas Tech men's head coach Tim Siegel said. "If you can't get up for this facility, there's something wrong."
The new tennis center is part of the Jim and Julie Turner Riverfront Athletic Park. Fans strolling down the Dutch Schroeder Plaza pass the Baylor Ballpark (baseball, opened 1999) on the right and Getterman Stadium (softball, 1999) on the left before approaching Betty Lou Mays Field (soccer, 1999) and the Baylor Tennis Center. Each venue is built with the same red brick and green wrought-iron theme, giving the park a sense of continuity.
"This facility is absolutely beautiful," raved Oklahoma men's head coach Paul Lockwood. "It was done in a first-class way. The entire complex -- baseball softball, and tennis -- is the best in the nation. Hopefully, other schools will look at this facility and take note of what can be done."
Paid attendance for the weekend approached 2000, including a crowd of more than 800 for the men's semifinal match between Baylor and Texas Saturday night.
"I feel like a pro out there," Baylor men's head coach Matt Knoll said after that match. "It's a totally different atmosphere than the Streich Courts. It's great to see all these people out here, we're playing in a different atmosphere. I hope this continues."
The new facility replaces Baylor's previous home for tennis, the Streich Courts, where the Bears hosted the 2000 NCAA Men's Tennis First and Second Rounds. The Baylor Tennis Center includes six individual outdoor courts, each separated by a short fence.
Chairback seating for 1,268 tennis patrons overlooks the courts from the north, and berms at each end of the complex allow the stadium to hold 1,500 fans at normal capacity. Bleachers can be brought in that increase the total capacity to 4,500.
Opposite the seats is a team clubhouse which will contain a pro shop, training rooms, meeting rooms, public and team locker rooms and coaches offices. It will also include office space and locker rooms for the softball team. Baylor expects a June 2001 completion date for the clubhouse.
Located directly behind the grandstand is the center court, flanked by two additional courts which will convert to seating for 3,500 fans for featured matches.
Phases I and II (the main courts, clubhouse and center court) are already complete or nearly complete. Phase III of the project includes six individual indoor tennis courts, which will be the finest and most innovative tennis facility in the South and Southwestern United States. The indoor courts will feature a state-of-the-art tennis environment emphasizing indirect, highly reflective tennis lighting and individualized and separately enclosed tennis courts.
As Phase IV of the project, the Streich Courts will be updated and realigned to enhance their appearance and competitive desirability. They will be available for tournament play and were used during the first two rounds of the Big 12 Championships over the weekend.
"The new tennis complex at Baylor is a dream come true for many who have envisioned our school as a national power in the collegiate sport of tennis," said Scott Livesay, chairman of the Big 12 Tennis Committee for the City of Waco/Big 12 Task Force. "All past efforts have not gone in vain as Baylor's president, regents and athletic director have now made a long term commitment. Only the sky is the limit, and we are truly excited about the future of Baylor tennis with these indoor and outdoor facilities that will be second to none across the country."
For more on the facility, click here.
Other Coaches' Thoughts on the Baylor Tennis Center
April 26-29, 2001 at the 2001 Big 12 Championships
Colorado women's head coach Nicole Kenneally:
"I think the facility is really nice. For a college setting, it's really cozy. I would definitely like to see this type of facility at CU."
Kansas women's head coach Kilmeny Waterman:
"It's amazing. It's a great complex to see for all of tennis. We're quite jealous."
Kansas State women's head coach Steve Bietau:
"The facility is awesome. It ranks with the best in country."
Missouri women's head coach Blake Starkey:
"The new facility here is beautiful, everybody loves it. Baylor is very lucky."
Oklahoma State men's head coach James Wadley:
"This facility is the best in America and in the Big 12. It's a premiere facility. I think it's tremendously impressive."
Texas men's head coach Michael Center:
"This was one of the best atmospheres I have ever been at. This facility is the greatest in the country."
Texas women's head coach Jeff Moore:
"This new facility is as good as any in the country, a very impressive job. I hope that the (Big 12) North takes notice because the South is doing a good job regarding facilities. I really like it because it's on a college campus at a first-rate facility."
Texas Tech women's head coach Virginia Brown:
"The new tennis center is awesome, probably better than awesome."
