Athletic Department Pushes Back Date for Opening of Tennis Center

Coaches and players alike were hoping to return to school this fall and find a newly completed tennis center at Baker Field. After two years, however, the tennis center is still not complete, and a new target date has been set for mid-winter.

The Dick Savitt Tennis Center will replace Columbia's former facility at Baker Field. The six million dollar project to build six hard surface courts, an enlarged spectator area, new locker rooms, and lounges and offices was originally slated to be completed by Sept. 1.

On Sept. 1, the contractor was still laying down cement slabs. That portion of the project is now slated to be completed on Oct. 28, at which point the slabs will need to cure for about a month. The air dome will be fabricated and temporary courts installed around the end of November. The current plan calls for three temporary courts.

The cause for the delay, according to Athletic Director John Reeves, was dealing with the red tape involved in a project of such magnitude.

"We had to deal with six different agencies," he explained. "When you are dealing with waterfront property, there is just so much that comes into play. We had to get approval from the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Parks Department, and the State Dormitory Authority [among others]."

Reeves was hesitant to assign blame to any particular person or agency.

"It's fair to say that everyone tried diligently to do their job. I wouldn't put blame on anyone. It's just that Manhattan is a tough place to build. Whatever you anticipate, it will probably take longer."

One key delay was caused by the installation of a new playing surface. Columbia's two current varsity tennis programs are the only programs in the nation to compete on clay. When the Savitt Tennis Center is complete, the Lions will join the other 2,247 varsity tennis programs playing on hardcourt. The new hardcourt surface must be laid down in temperatures ranging from 75-85 degrees. Unfortunately, the window of opportunity was missed this summer. The team will have to use a temporary surface until next summer when the permanent courts can be installed.

Associate Athletic Director Al Carlson stressed that this was not a major cause for concern in the athletic department.

"We're going to get through the spring season with the bubble up, and the premier court will be done in June. The temporary courts were used for the Davis Cup in [Los Angeles] and are being used as temporary courts for tennis at Madison Square Garden."

Women's coach Rob Kresberg was not upset by the delay.

"[The delay] is an inconvenience at most. It's a mild, mild inconvenience. It means practicing at Riverside, which the players won't mind because it's a hop away. That's not so bad. There isn't really an adverse effect to the program in any long term way."

In addition to the upgrade of the facilities itself, both Reeves and Kresberg feel that the new center will improve the University's standing in the athletic community.

Kresberg previously felt that he was at a distinct disadvantage when it came to recruiting.

"There is no question that I've lost potential recruits, quality players [because of Columbia's current facilities]--especially players from Southern California who have never played on clay and players from the Midwest who rarely play on clay. This [new tennis center] will open a new market for me in terms of recruiting."

This newly found advantage is still not enough to appease members of the Columbia Tennis Center, a group of alumni who use the tennis courts. Members of the group have objected to the new project because they feel that the center was built solely with the teams' interests in mind, as the group's desire for clay courts was passed over.

Dr. Reeves agreed that the situation was difficult to resolve but in the end felt that the University took the right step.

"My responsibility is first and foremost to the students. We had to convert the clay courts to hardcourts. Yes, the membership [of the tennis center] is an important constituency to the Athletic Department and University, but they do have different options where they can play if the find this court unacceptable. Students who pay $32,000 a year to use our facility have no other options but to play at the center. I am absolutely convinced that the consensus will come once the center is done because it is a good surface," Reeves said.