New tennis pavilion groundbreaking

On Saturday, Feb. 18, Cal Poly announced the beginning of construction for the Comerford Tennis Pavilion at a groundbreaking event. 

The Comerford Tennis Pavilion is a new tennis complex with locker rooms for the athletes, outdoor seating for spectators, and a nutrition hub. 

Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong is hoping this facility will be a center for the athletes to relax and study. 

“Well, we’re really excited to enhance the experience for our student athletes because they’re not just competing in sports, but they’re also student athletes,” Armstrong said. “This pavilion gives them a place to come to, a place to gather, place to study, a place to study about the game, whatever it may be, but the main focus is on student success and really growing learn by doing.” 

In about 18 months Cal Poly received $6.5 million in donations for this project. 

The pavilion is named after Cal Poly alumnus Kevin Comerford and his family. Comerford hopes this pavilion will help his family get more involved in the community.

“We wanted to get entrenched in the community and this is one way that we felt we could get entrenched with the community as well as give to the sport that my wife and I are very, very passionate about,” Comerford said. 

The groundbreaking featured 14 speakers including President Armstrong, the two head tennis coaches, and three athletes on the teams. 

“And so I know there’s going to be a lot of men and women that are developed through this and they’re going to be coming to Cal Poly because of this,” Comerford said. “And that’s super exciting to me.” 

The pavilion is expected to be ready for occupancy in March 2024. 

Business administration senior, Colter Smith, is excited to see how the pavilion will improve their team in the future. “I think this is something that really just elevates both of these programs and kind of just gives us a new stature and a better fighting chance,” Smith said.