Burrows-Burleson Close to Getting a Face Lift

Of all these future projects, Virginia Tech might move on renovating the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center first. Tech already ran a design competition, and Gabbard says the winner will likely be announced soon.

“Bureaucracy is a wonderful thing,” Gabbard said. “It takes too many signatures and everybody is busy. The committee has decided who the winner is, but it’s not formal yet. There’s always the legal ramifications of, ‘Did they do it right,’ so there’s scrutiny too. I think in another week, you’ll hear who that is.”

Gabbard did say that the project is slated to run about $4 million. He also said that there are donors waiting to give to the project.

“I think we can raise that money pretty quickly,” Gabbard said. “We’ve got a lot of tennis people out there that are anxious to improve that whole setup out there. The courts are good, indoor and outdoor, but the team facility is just awful.”

Gabbard says the main objective is to upgrade the team locker rooms and player lounges, while also increasing the overall aesthetic appeal of the facility.

“We need to be competitive with our bricks and sticks, as well as our players,’ Gabbard said.
Gabbard admits that the facility needs work now, but once the renovations are complete, Burrows-Burleson will be competitive in the ACC and among the rest of the Power 5 tennis programs.

“Forget the locker room complex for a minute, because we’re going to fix that, about the middle of the road,” Gabbard said. “The outdoor courts are fine, the indoor facility is very good, the glitz and glamour around it is fair. Once we get the locker rooms right, it’ll be middle of the road. It won’t be the best in the ACC, but it will not be the worst.”
[Post edited by Old Line Hokie at 04/23/2018 10:46PM]