Fall 2014 is ushering in a new era for the MTSU men’s and women’s tennis programs as MTSU Athletics and the City of Murfreesboro break ground Monday, Oct. 28, on a state-of-the-art indoor tennis facility at Old Fort Park in Murfreesboro.

Located on Old Fort Parkway, the $3.7 million facility will feature eight indoor courts, a pro shop, locker rooms, lounge area and meeting area.

Groundbreaking for the new facility will take place at 2 p.m. Monday at Old Fort Park.

The partnership between the university and the city means that for the first time since 2008, the Blue Raider teams will have an indoor facility in Murfreesboro. Currently, the MTSU tennis teams play at Nashboro Village, located nearly 30 miles northwest of campus in Nashville.

Officials said the new facility — a combined effort of MTSU and the City of Murfreesboro — will benefit both the Blue Raider teams and the local tennis community.

The Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department will operate the facility, allowing Blue Raider tennis practices and matches to take place from November until March.

Relocating indoor matches to a facility in Murfreesboro will cut travel time for practices and home matches for MTSU student-athletes and give them more time on campus, university officials said. The new facility also will give the Murfreesboro community more opportunities to watch the Blue Raiders in action without traveling to Nashville.

An architect’s rendering of an idea for the planned Middle Tennessee State Tennis Complex is shown in exterior detail, above, and interior detail, right.

“This is a day that I have been dreaming of for the past three years as the head men’s coach at Middle Tennessee,” men’s tennis coach Jimmy Borendame said. “We send special thanks to the Indoor Tennis Committee members, the Middle Tennessee athletic administration and staff, the city of Murfreesboro and, most importantly, all of the financial contributors that have made this happen.

“Our community and tennis programs will now have a beautiful place to play tennis indoors during the wet and winter months. This is a great day to be a Blue Raider and for all tennis players.”

Women’s tennis coach Shelley Godwin added, “This is a monumental day not only for our programs here at Middle Tennessee but for tennis in our community. So many people have contributed their time and resources to make this indoor facility possible. We are thankful to be able to join them in turning this indoor dream into a reality.”

You can learn more about the project’s history here and here.

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— MT Athletics (www.goblueraiders.com)