North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Construction is expected to begin this summer on a racquet sports complex in Raleigh, one of the largest in the country.
Swing Racquet + Paddle, founded by local entrepreneurs Rob Autry and Jason DeGroff, is investing $125 million in the Brier Creek area and hopes to attract one million visitors a year.
Raleigh council heard from the site’s developers at a meeting last week and committed $10 million in financial assistance for the facility, which being built on city-owned land at 6121 Mt. Herman Road.
The complex has been in the works since 2018, and its scope includes:
- 28 tennis courts
- 25 pickleball courts
- 16 padel courts
- Beach tennis and volleyball courts
- Ping-pong lounge
- Restaurants, bars, a research center from Wilson and retail shops
- Nature trail
Swing will pay $275,000 in annual rent to the city, with a 3% increase every year.
Autry and DeGroff said Swing Racquet + Paddle is expected to create more than 300 new jobs, and a total economic impact of $360 million in just the first three years.
“We expect some of our strategic partners and leading sponsors, like Wilson, to take advantage of the opportunity to have a staff presence at Swing’s Class-A office space,” Autry and DeGroff said.
Stephen Bentley, director of the parks and recreation department, says the benefits of the center are more than just monetary.
“It is great for Raleigh to really place a flag nationally, if not internationally, on the map,” he said. “In addition to that, they will pay rent annually, so they will pay $275,000 and that will increase 3% every year.
“They’re going to give scholarships to kids through our programs in Parks and Recreation. They’re going to provide jobs for kids through the Parks Department,” explained Bentley. “They’re also going to provide free programs in the community.”