Betting Big on Tennis

Tennis Courts

The U.S. Tennis Association Mid-Atlantic Section is building a state-of-the-art 36-court tennis campus in Loudoun County, Va., creating a hub for year-round community health and wellness.

The campus is planned to draw local, regional and national-level tennis events, while featuring daily tennis programming, allowing the nonprofit USTA MAS to grow the sport and attain its vision for tennis in every community in the Mid-Atlantic region. The region has seen strong annual growth in tennis participants over the past five years.

The USTA Mid-Atlantic tennis campus will harness this growing interest in the sport, and will pave the way for more people—newbies and seasoned players alike—to access tennis and achieve all the social, emotional and physical benefits of the sport.

"We have an enormous opportunity to use tennis as a way to impart meaningful change among individuals and communities and introduce the sport to so many more people," said Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro, CEO of USTA Mid-Atlantic. "Our community-first approach with our pursuit of the tennis campus will allow us to build something that will be transformative and unmatched in ability to elevate and enhance lives, the community and the entire Mid-Atlantic region."

Plans for the campus include 20 outdoor tennis courts, 16 indoor courts, eight pickleball/youth courts and more than 190,000 total square feet of tennis infrastructure—ample for daily programs and match play, USTA leages, events and community initiatives. In addition, the USTA MAS plans to house its operations and headquarters on campus as well.

The facility will provide a robust lineup of daily tennis activities and classes, including wheelchair and adaptive programs, enrichment programs and community events for players and fans at every level and ability.

Especially fundamental to the vision for the campus is activating tennis in a way that fosters community, builds character and enhances well-being among all who visit the campus and in the surrounding communities. Holistic outreach and education programs will extend into the community to support under-resourced youth through tennis and education programs, and tennis programs integrated within schools as a way to provide access to a new sport they may not otherwise be exposed to. The campus will also serve as a learning center where tennis providers, coaches, teachers and grassroots organizers can gain the latest knowledge and best practices for the sport.

"The new campus will bring people from different walks of life together and serve as a key part of the Mid-Atlantic community, fulfilling their social and emotional needs, elevating and enhancing the lives of all who visit," said Beth Twomey, chief operating officer for USTA Mid-Atlantic. "It will be a hub of learning, teaching and growth that amplifies beyond its walls out to the larger community and Mid-Atlantic region."

In addition to community-based tennis and outreach programs, USTA MAS anticipates that the tennis campus will be a top venue to draw regional, national and international tennis events that will engage fans and players from across the country and beyond. The organization estimates hosting more than 50 annual tennis events and projects more than 78,000 event attendees. Coupled with daily tennis programming, tournaments and community events, the campus is estimated to contribute $8.5 million in economic impact annually.

USTA MAS plans to build the tennis campus prominently in the heart of Loudoun County, Va. The project will cost approximately $42 million and has an anticipated grand opening in 2025.

The USTA MAS Tennis Campus is the anchor feature of a planned community, with a diverse slate of home sites and community amenities. USTA Mid-Atlantic worked collaboratively with the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and Loudoun County Economic Development to select the location, which is 33 miles northwest of Washington, D.C.

"We are pleased that USTA Mid-Atlantic has chosen Loudoun County for their new headquarters and facility. This project will provide a place where the next generation of players can learn perseverance, integrity and fair play," said Loudoun Chair-at-large Phyllis Randall. "The pandemic has shown us just how important it is for all our residents to have access to open space and opportunities for outdoor recreation. This project will provide both outdoor and indoor courts, which will provide a wonderful place for our citizens to get exercise and have fun safely."

USTA MAS has accepted a $250,000 Loudoun County Business incentive from Loudoun Economic Development for the tennis campus project. USTA MAS will also seek additional partners, corporate entities and individuals aligned with the mission and shared values for tax-deductible contributions and grants to support funding the project cost.

For more information about the tennis campus, visit www.ustamidatlantictenniscampus.com.