The Gator women's tennis program has always been the benefactor of one of the nation's top tennis facilities. Last year, thanks to the additional generous contributions of Dr. Alfred Ring, the entire facility underwent a complete facelift that turned it into one that is unlike any other in the country. Ring has made substantial contributions over the last several years to bring the complex to its current elite status, funding several previous projects.
The Alfred Ring Tennis Complex was completed during the spring of 1999, following a $1.7 million renovation project. The focal point is a new building adjacent to the courts that serves as home to the men's and women's teams.
The Ring Complex Project won the Silver Award in the 1999 City of Gainesville Beautification Awards in the Institutional Category. Competition was sponsored by the Gainesville Parks and Recreation Division.
The main building of the complex encompasses 5,620 square feet and includes coaches' offices for the men's and women's teams, as well as a training room and locker rooms for both players and coaches. There is also be a conference room, in addition to a reception area and a 3,000 square-foot courtyard. The complex has a locker room for opposing teams, bringing the total building areas to 7,163 square feet. The complex also includes a new main entrance that leads directly into the grandstand area. The new entrance leads into an open courtyard area that includes benched seating and concessions surrounded by attractive landscaping.
The complex also features a 1,000-seat grandstand overlooking six main lighted courts, in addition to a second row of nine courts. The second row combines six outdoor courts and the three covered courts in the Ring Pavilion, giving Florida a total of 15 regulation courts. The courts, which were resurfaced during the 1998 summer, are made of a hard court surface similar to the type of court found at the U.S. Open.
The grandstand is highlighted by a two-level, 15-seat press box and features six electronic scoreboards over each of the six courts, providing updates on all six grandstand courts. A court-level viewing area, as well as concessions and restrooms, are conveniently located beneath the grandstand.
The attractive complex is surrounded by palm trees and a lush green landscape that easily makes it one of the most inviting tennis environments for both the spectator and the competitor.
Even prior to the 1998 renovation, the Alfred Ring Complex has received national attention for its splendor. The NCAA selected the University of Florida as the host for the 1989, 1990, 1993 and 1999 NCAA Division I Women's Championships. The facility has played host to the NCAA Women's First & Second Round sub-regional in 1999 and 2000, when the tournament field was expanded to 64 teams. Florida also played host to the men's NCAA Region III Qualifying Tournament in both 1995 and 1997.
The Alfred A. Ring Complex played host to a USTA Women's $10,000 event in January 2002 for the first time.
The courts have also seen some of the state's premier prep talent as the University of Florida and Gainesville have frequently served as hosts for the Florida State High School Championships. Competition continues at the complex through the summer months with sessions of the Gator Tennis Camp, which attracts some of the top young talent in the region to Gainesville.
