Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1140472
B M & T ••• May/June 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 26 have conference space so that planners can book for their meetings & events. The establishment of the ATA/ATEF Tennis & Education Complex will provide Miramar, Broward County, and the State of Florida with national visibility and will pro- vide the history of African-Americans in Tennis with a place to call home and to have storage for historical pieces and arti- facts. Founded in Washington, D.C., in 1916, the ATA is the oldest African- American sports organization in the United States. The ATA has traditionally offered scholarships to students of color to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Tucker wants to ensure that more African- American tennis athletes receive funding, instead of the dearth of international stu- dents receiving ATA scholarships. The facil- ity will provide a great venue for tennis tal- ent to be cultivated and celebrated. Roxanne Aaron, ATA President echoed the sentiment that "after 100 years, the ATEF and ATA have embarked on the largest development of both organization's history – the development of the ATA/ATEF National Training Center and ATA Tennis Hall of Fame." For more than 50 years, the American Tennis Education Foundation (ATEF) mission has been to work with the American Tennis Association (ATA) to develop junior and adult players. Many professional African-American play- ers came through ATA Clubs and Junior Development programs. The ATA historically helped cultivate the tennis games of Talley Holmes, Ora Washington, Nathaniel and Franklin Jackson, Margaret and Roumania Peters, George Stewart, Althea Gibson, Arthur Ashe and others. In 2017 the ATA celebrated 100 years of cultivat- ing and supporting tennis talent. Richard Williams, father and coach of the leg- endary tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams was one of the first inductees to the ATA Hall of Fame in 2017. Mayor Messam saw it as his role " to represent the city in communicating the commission's desire to welcome the ATA to our City. In order to accomplish that task the Mayor met with the ATA, Broward County Officials and the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB. The public private partnership required to bring the project to fruition involve four entities, simi- lar to a set of doubles. The ATA, office of the Mayor, GFLCVB, and Broward County teamed up to authorize the development of a tennis home for mutual benefit. Messam noted, "the weeklong ATA/ATEF National Championships Tournament that will be held at the new Miramar facility is expected to have an economic impact in excess of $5 million dollars, and will draw more than 2,500 participants." Mayor Wessam stated that the project is important because "the state of the art facilities will provide high performance tennis to the city of Miramar and our res- idents regardless of race or socio-eco- nomic status. It also expands Miramar's offering as a destination city expanding our ability to host sporting events and competitions solidifying Broward County's goal to expand Cultural Tourism." Tucker agrees, stating "the venue is an investment in our community, and generations to come that will grow up with tennis, a healthy, fun and socially rewarding activity." Black Meeting and Tourism readers and supporters can advance the ATEF/ATA facility by contacting the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB VP Albert Tucker at (954) 767-2456. (left to right) Albert Tucker, VP of Multicultural Business Development for Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau; Roxanne Aaron, American Tennis Association President-Elect; Wayne Messam, City of Miramar Mayor, gather in front of a rendering of the ATA/ATEF National Tennis Training Complex coming to Miramar Regional Park.