Friday, February 1, 2002
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Friday, February 1, 2002 |
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PTC to host college tennis tourney in May By JOHN
MUNFORD
The Peachtree City Tennis Center has signed a two-year contract to host the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' national championship tournament beginning in May. The event, which will bring 48 small-college teams to the area for competition, is scheduled this year for May 13-17. Virgil Christian, the executive director of the Peachtree City Development Authority which operates the tennis center said the event will be one of the biggest tournaments undertaken by the center. "We're pretty flattered," Christian said, noting that the first two days of the tournament will be hosted at tennis courts in south Fulton County. "It's going to be quite an event. It's one of the biggest things we've ever done." Lori Heeter, championship events administrator for the NAIA, said she felt very comfortable that Peachtree City would be able to meet the tournament's needs. She said it also helped that Christian is a former tennis coach and understands how to meet those needs. "We were looking for the best experience for our student athletes, and the city's great," Heeter said, referring to her visit to Peachtree City. "They seemed to be very organized and we have a good working relationship. ... We are very excited." The tournament has been held the past two years in Lexington, Ky. The economic impact of the tournament is expected to reach at least $1.5 million, Christian said. The Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center will serve as the host for the tournament. The tennis center will "break even" on the tournament, but the real winners will be local hotels and motels who will host the 500 players and coaches in addition to whatever spectators and others come to stay in Peachtree City, Christian noted. Revenues from the city's hotel-motel tax are used to fund the tennis center, in addition to the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater and Falcon Field. Attracting major college tournaments has been a goal of the tennis center now that construction of six covered courts is underway. Construction is not expected to be complete by the time for this year's NAIA tournament, and NAIA officials understood that but still decided to come to Peachtree City, Christian added.
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