USTA Florida Section to Break Ground on New Headquarters in Lake Nona

An artist’s rendering of the USTA National Campus in Orlando

Lake Nona, one of the top 10 fastest growing communities in America, has announced that the Lake Nona Sports & Performance District will become the home of the new United States Tennis Association-Florida Section (USTA Florida) Headquarters building.

A ceremonial ground breaking will be held on June 3, 2016 at 1 p.m. at the end of USTA Boulevard in Lake Nona, adjacent to the current construction of the $100 million, 102-court USTA National Campus.

In addition to being the new home of USTA Florida, Lake Nona’s Sports & Performance District is home to the USTA National Campus, the largest tennis facility in the country opening at the end of 2016; the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA); and Major League Soccer’s Orlando City Soccer Club’s Training Center and Elite Youth Academy, which are all currently under construction.

A leader in innovation among the USTA’s 17 sections, USTA Florida was last year named the USTA Section of the Year by Tennis Industry magazine. Established in 1949, USTA Florida is a not-for-profit volunteer organization with approximately 40,000 members and more than 500 organization members, representing more than 4,500 courts across the state.

“With the arrival of USTA Florida to our Sports & Performance District, Lake Nona brings unprecedented tennis resources and opportunities to USTA’s most innovative section,” said Andy Odenbach, vice president of sports ventures for Tavistock Development Company, developer of the 11-square-mile Lake Nona community. “USTA Florida has a track record of delivering an exceptional tournament experience for their members and competitors, and Lake Nona is thrilled to be welcoming them to Orlando permanently.”

The single-story, 10,000-square-foot USTA Florida Headquarters will house a technologically-driven office space and will serve as the connecting point for its mission of growing adult and youth recreational tennis across the state of Florida.

“We have already scheduled 18 of our largest USTA Florida League sectionals and junior amateur events at the USTA National Campus in 2017, events where more than 8,000 players will be able to experience this incredible facility,” said USTA Florida Executive Director Doug Booth. “Moving our headquarters to the Lake Nona Sports & Performance District will better position us to grow tennis. We will be able to test new ideas and replicate best practices for growing tennis in communities across the state. Both community tennis providers and USTA Florida members will benefit directly from this move.”

The Lake Nona Sports & Performance District offers a forward-thinking platform for sports and performance-related organizations in training, nutrition, human performance and health technology with unique resources including: a gigabit fiber network for fitness, sports and performance applications and high-bandwidth video; and sports medicine practices in conjunction with Lake Nona Medical City partners, where marketing firms and manufacturers will be able to test their products and services.

ABOUT LAKE NONA
Orlando’s Lake Nona is one of the top 10 fastest growing communities in America with more than $3 billion in construction in the last eight years across 7.1 million square feet of world-class residential and commercial facilities — and it’s just getting started. The 11-square-mile master-designed community is home to thoughtfully designed neighborhoods, world-class education facilities, Lake Nona Medical City, a Sports & Performance District highlighted by USTA’s New Home of American Tennis — the largest tennis facility in the world, diverse work spaces, recreational facilities, retail centers, and entertainment venues encompassing the best Orlando has to offer with all the conveniences of a dynamic, vibrant community. Driven by a long-term vision, Lake Nona is committed to building an innovative community that inspires human potential whilst being focused on sustainable design, healthy living, and groundbreaking gigabit fiber optic technology. Adjacent to Orlando International Airport, Lake Nona will feature millions of square feet of commercial space, thousands of hotel rooms, 25,000+ residents and in excess of 100 shops and restaurants.

ABOUT USTA FLORIDA
With a mission to grow tennis in the Sunshine State, USTA Florida gets adults and youth on tennis courts through offerings such as USTA Leagues, tournaments, Junior Team Tennis, new one-day tournaments, and other innovative formats. Established in 1949, USTA Florida is a not-for-profit volunteer organization with approximately 40,000 members and more than 500 organizational members helping grow the game. To learn more visit www.ustaflorida.com.