|
Family Circle Tennis Center
Home of the Family Circle Cup
In 2000, Family Circle magazine became the first title sponsor to partner with city and county municipalities to build a state-of-the-art tennis facility that would be home to America’s oldest all-women’s professional tennis I event. With support from the City of Charleston, Daniel Island, the state of South Carolina, and Charleston and Berkeley counties, the $15 million dollar Family Circle Tennis Center was opened in the spring of 2001. Surrounded by lush landscape and century old oaks, the Family Circle Tennis Center was designed to highlight the charm and beauty of the Lowcountry.
This award-winning public facility is first class in every sense of the word. With 17 championship tennis courts (13 clay, 4 hard and all courts lighted for night play), the Tennis Center is a 32-acre state of the art facility highlighted by the 10,200 seat Family Circle Stadium. A unique 10,000 square foot Clubhouse serves as the hub of activity on a year-round basis. The first level of the Clubhouse features the Tennis Center Pro Shop. The pro shop offers a multitude of amenities for club members and patrons, including tennis clothing, luxury locker room facilities, racquets, accessories and professional stringing services. The clubhouse also serves as the corporate headquarters for the Family Circle Cup. Overlooking the majestic Althea Gibson Club Court and a stone’s throw from the water, the Clubhouse mirrors the traditional, architectural charm synonymous with the South.
The facility also hosts a variety of events throughout the year including concerts, festivals, tournaments and other special activities. Over the past five years, the venue has garner recognition not only a national level but an international one as well. In 2001 the USTA selected the facility to receive the Public Facility of the Year award as part of their annual Outstanding Facilities Awards.
 As one of the top public tennis facilities in the southeast, it joined over 2,500 other public facilities across America to become designated as a Tennis Welcome Center in 2006. The Tennis Center was named a "Top 50 Tennis Welcome Center" that year, and for each consecutive year since first garnering this accolade. This national initiative is aimed at growing the sport of tennis and making the game of tennis a fun experience.
With one of the most qualified teaching staffs in the country, the Family Circle Tennis Center provides residents of Charleston with a diverse tennis program aimed at pleasing every age and skill level. The professional staff offers one of the most comprehensive selections of social and instructional programs in the area for both adults and juniors.
In addition to the world-renowned Family Circle Cup event, the Tennis Center also holds a number of key tennis events including the SMASH Junior Cup. Over the years, the SMASH Jr. Cup has gained status as one of the top junior events in the southeast with over 400 elite juniors participating in the event. Within the past few years, the facility has won bids on hosting a number of top national and international tennis events.
 In September of 2004, the Family Circle Tennis Center served as host site for the Davis Cup semifinal tie between the United States and Belarus. As the world’s largest annual international team competition, Charleston and the facility received worldwide attention. In January 2004, Charleston was selected, for the first time in the city’s history, as the host city for the USA League Tennis Southern Sectional Championships in 2005 and 2006. Over 4,500 participants from seventeen different states traveled to Charleston to take part in this regional event. Billed as the “World’s Largest Tennis Tournament”, the Family Circle Tennis Center served as host site for the nine-day event.
More than just a premier tennis facility, the Family Circle Tennis Center is also the perfect place for an array of other activities. This year-round venue currently hosts concerts, camps, cultural festivals, athletic events, and other activities throughout the year. Over the past few years, many of the music industry’s top acts have entertained audiences in Family Circle Stadium. The stadium has received glowing reviews as Charleston’s top outdoor arena and is considered the perfect setting for a concert under the stars. John Mayer, Don Henley, B.B. King, Al Green, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Hootie & The Blowfish, Sugarland, Zac Brown Band, darius Rucker, and O.A.R. are just a few of the popular entertainers who have played to enthusiastic crowds on Daniel Island.
Family Circle Tennis Center • 161 Seven Farms Drive • Daniel Island • Charleston, SC 29492 • USA
|
