New Racquet Sports/Wellness Facility Approved in Raleigh
October 11, 2018
RALEIGH, NC [October 10, 2018] – Triangle Racquet Sports, LLC, with support from the United States Tennis Association (USTA), is excited to announce a state-of-the-art racquet sports and health and wellness facility coming to Brier Creek in Raleigh. The Raleigh City Council unanimously approved a 50-year lease with extensions up to 100 years for the venue located on the 48-acre lot of land owned by the City of Raleigh on Mt. Herman Road.
Designed with the player experience in mind, Triangle Racquet Sports will provide the racquet sports enthusiast with courts and amenities that will be in a class by itself. Triangle Racquet Sports will also be at the forefront of sports, sports medicine and technology with a platform for collaborative partnerships to support improved health and wellness for the Raleigh community.
“We are grateful to the City of Raleigh for seeing the vision of Triangle Racquet Sports, an inclusive facility that has something for everyone in the market place, and helping to make it a reality,” said Rob Autry, local entrepreneur and founder of Triangle Racquet Sports. “Triangle Racquet Sports will be a facility where health and fitness, racquet sports, sports medicine, orthopedics, and technology converge. We are so excited to bring this one of a kind opportunity to the community and the region.”
The new site will bring huge benefits to the community including the addition of 51 tennis courts, both indoor and outdoor, a center court that seats 2,500, 32 clay and 18 hard surface courts; pickleball and squash courts; a public park including trails, a playground, shelter and restrooms; a family zone for all Raleigh residents for use free of charge; and health and fitness facilities. Triangle Racquet Sports will also support the USTA Adult League Play and offer sports medicine opportunities including on-site sports orthopedics.
“We are excited to be moving forward and working with Triangle Racquet Sports to build a state-of-the-art racquet sports and health facility in North West Raleigh,” said Diane Sauer, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Director. “Participation in tennis and other racquet sports is continuing to increase in our area and this incredible opportunity will assist in filling the growing need for access to courts. In addition, the site will be satisfying another community need by providing a small park with a playground, picnic shelter, walking trails and restroom facility.”
Triangle Racquet Sports will work with the community to bring additional benefits to the area including the creation of more than 75 jobs, summer employment for Raleigh’s youth and the option for sponsored or scholarship memberships. The organization will also work with National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) to provide free and/or low-cost tennis to under-resourced youth.
“The Triangle Racquet Sports venue is integral to the sport of tennis both in North Carolina and nationwide,” said Virgil Christian, Senior Director, Collegiate Tennis and Facility Development, USTA. “From the concept to the design to hearing Rob’s vision of attracting events and the desire to serve the community is inspiring. It is vision like this that makes our game so exciting.”
The facility is estimated to have an economic impact of $3.5 million a year in Raleigh and be a facility to host major tournaments and events. Under an agreement with the city, Triangle Racquet Sports will lease the 48 acres of public land at Mt. Herman Road in Brier Creek for 50 years with an agreement set up for additional years. As a part of the innovative public-private partnership through the lease, the City of Raleigh will receive $275,000 annually with a three percent increase each year, and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources (PRCR) will operate the $500,000 public park built on site by Triangle Racquet Sports.
For more information, please visit www.triangleracquetsports.com.