http://www.aggieathletics.com/sports/w-tennis/spec-rel/103008aaa.html

So are the 6 indoor courts going to be clay or are the clay courts separate from the indoor courts. The wording is ambiguous.

Why would they build clay courts? Can you play team matches on clay?

The clays would be separate from the indoors. And, no, you can't play ITA sanctioned matches on clay.

So why are they building them? It seems like a pretty big expense for something that you can't use for a match and for something that there is really no point practicing on since they will never play on it in a dual match.

I do know that clay is much easier on the joints and would be better for injuries and stuff like that, but clay can produce a series of its own injuries, especially for American kids that aren't used to playing (and sliding)on it.

Anyone know the reasoning?

It would make it a lot easier to recruit elite players who eventually want to take a legit shot at the tour. If they know they always have access to clay, they can train for futures and challengers on the dirt in the fall and summer. No other school (that I know of) could guarantee its players a court on 3 different surfaces whenever they want.

Also, the university could turn the indoor/clay facility into a members only club and make some money. Not sure if they are thinking that far ahead, but it wouldn't surprise me at all.

That makes sense - thanks.

University doesnt even have the money to build a bare bones indoor facility, and we are looking at adding clay courts. Why cant we make it a two step process and get the thing built first, then worry about adding on. Stupid if you ask me.

The clays are a distant second priority to the indoor courts, as far as I know.

I sure hope so. We are hosting the national championships for the third time, and we cant get to the top of the facilities list to get indoor courts built. Sad if you ask me. This should have been built a year ago.

With the addition of indoor and clay courts, we would have an amazing tennis facility for events. Counting the IM courts, we would have a ton of courts out there.

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Also, the university could turn the indoor/clay facility into a members only club and make some money. Not sure if they are thinking that far ahead, but it wouldn't surprise me at all.

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Yeah I'd be shocked if they don't start selling memberships, once they have indoor courts. It would be silly to leave them empty the vast majority of the time, when they can make some easy revenue off it and not disturb the teams (the indoor facility still might not operate break even, but much closer)..



[This message has been edited by Aston04 (edited 11/17/2008 11:49p).]