Sumter's Palmetto Tennis Center Project's Phase 1 Complete with Expansion

For more than a decade, tennis has been a growing staple in Sumter.

Today the racket sport stands as a pillar of Sumter's economic growth after completing Phase 1 of the Palmetto Tennis Center project, making the city a destination for elite and avid players in the country.

The community celebrated the grand opening of the newly expanded Palmetto Tennis Center, located in the center of Sumter, tucked within Palmetto Park, on Friday.

The 400 Theater Drive facility is nationally ranked with a mission to serve Sumter by providing education, recreation, exercise and competitive tennis for all since 2004, but it looks different than it did back then.

It now has a spacious operations building, pro shop, 24 lighted deco turf hard tennis courts, four pickleball courts and a hitting wall that are free to the public, according to the City of Sumter. It also hosts the 17-year-long Conference Carolinas Championship Tennis Event and more than 25 events each year for more than 25,000 players across the country.

The Palmetto Tennis Center not only supported local, state, regional and national tennis players in the past years, but it has also provided economic growth to Sumter County.

"We talk about Team Sumter, and that's what we are. We make a lot happen with a little bit here in Sumter," City of Sumter Mayor David Merchant said. "When we all work together in Team Sumter, we can build world-class facilities."

Sports tourism boom

With the help of the city and county governments, local businesses, the state Legislature and the residents of the community, the completion of Phase 1 will bring $18 million to the Sumter economy, according to Merchant.

"Sports tourism is big," he said. "What this center does is it continues to grow and continues to bring more sports tourism in our community."

The idea of turning Sumter into a sports tourism destination came to life back in the 2000s, when former council members and former Mayor Joe McElveen had a vision to get Sumter to where it is today. However, it was also made possible through a partnership with the state.

"This has been a decades-in-the-making type of project," South Carolina Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, said. "It was first pitched to us years ago."

Smith remembers growing up and playing tennis at Palmetto Park, and he always knew the facility had potential to grow into something greater.

"This is going to be a huge win for Sumter because what this does is it brings people to our community," Smith said. "They see Sumter and see what a gem we are here in Sumter and what a desirable place it is."

South Carolina is known for its tourism along the coastline and Upstate, leaving rural communities unnoticed. Smith, along with other state delegates, fought to make sports marketing a new, innovative kind of tourism that focused primarily on rural communities like Sumter.

"This is a different type of tourism that we've been encouraging on the state level," he said. "What we do is bring people to communities who come and play in a sports tournament."

From there, tourists will stay in Sumter hotels and eat locally, boosting the economy and putting Sumter on the map.

"Rural South Carolina deserves the same opportunities as the metropolitan areas. We pour millions and millions of dollars into tourism in this state," Smith said. "But why not rural South Carolina? Why cannot Sumter be a part of that?"

Phase 2 - Red Clay courts

As the Palmetto Tennis Center continues to grow, Smith said he thinks Phase 2 will play a tremendous part in bringing more investment to the community and state.

Phase 2, which was authorized for construction by Sumter City Council in February, will consist of the installation of eight red clay pro tennis courts and other site improvements that will bring more elite players in the U.S. to South Carolina.

"These are desirable courts to come and have tournaments," Smith said. "You're going to see an expansion of more tournaments coming here, which is going to bring people from all over the country to Sumter, South Carolina."

According to Palmetto Tennis Center General Manager Sam Kiser, the imported European red clay made from recycled red roof tile will be a vital piece in the Tennis Center's economic impact because Sumter is slated to be the first installation of RedClay USA.

"There's about six or eight private courses built around the country," Kiser said. "This will be the first major installation in the United States. We will be the innovation center for RedClay USA."

Red clay courts are soft and easier on the knees compared to hard surface courts, Kiser said. He thinks tennis players from across the country will be sent to play in Sumter for regional and national tournaments once the red clay courts are installed.

"Everything we do is geared toward economic impact," he said. "It will be substantial when the clay is done."

Reprint from The Sumter Item: https://www.theitem.com/stories/sumters-palmetto-tennis-center-projects-phase-1-complete-with-expansion,363400?