The Tennis Bubble

        Gustavus Adolphus College has always prided itself in its strong tennis program. By the year 1916, there were already six tennis courts located on campus. The Swanson Tennis Center, also known as the Tennis Bubble, did not open until the 1992-1993 school year. The dome was inflated for the first time on June 18th, 1992. The Swanson Tennis Center offered no membership fees for the first quarter to celebrate its opening. The center is a one million dollar indoor facility featuring six tennis courts. Tennis West, a Twin Cities Company, constructed the custom-designed facility, one of the largest the company has built. The Gustavus men and women’s tennis team practice and compete here. The colleges’ gold teams also practice at the center during the winter.

Brown Outdoor Tennis Courts

        The Brown Outdoor Tennis Courts are adjacent to the Swanson Tennis Center on the west edge of campus. The eight courts are used for general recreation by faculty and staff. The men and women’s tennis team for practices and competitions also use them. Another set of tennis courts utilized on campus are the Gibbs Tennis Courts, which are located east of North, Gibbs, and Sorensen Hall. Gustavus has 24 outdoor tennis courts, used primarily for recreation by students and faculty. The tennis teams use these courts when the weather permits.

The Swanson Tennis Center

        The Swanson Tennis Center covers 44,000 square feet, is naturally lit, and has a 65-foot air supported fabric ceiling holding it together. The roof of the building weighs 12 tons (24,000 lbs.) and takes about an hour to inflate. There are three fans to hold the roof up and three fans to provide heat and air conditioning in the facility. Buildings on campus have changed immensely over the years due to the fact that the college campus has suffered everything from fires to tornadoes.

        The Swanson Tennis Center is the main tennis facility used on campus. It houses an Observation Deck, The Kevin Ylinen Lounge, and the David and Erik Aasen Classroom. The center utilizes two-color green DecoTurf II, the same surface that is used at the U.S. Open. The Bubble provides a well-equipped indoor tennis facility for its players. It is located on the northwest portion of the Gustavus Adolphus Campus. The Swanson Tennis Center was dedicated to Lloyd O. Swanson for his contributions to the renovation and advancement of Gustavus Adolphus College, and his appreciation and support of tennis as a life sport.

Sources

“Tennis Dome,” Vertical Files, Gustavus Adolphus College Archives.

"Swanson Tennis Center." Gustavus Adolphus College. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

"Brown Tennis Courts." - Adjacent to Swanson Tennis Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

"Swanson Tennis Center: Facilities." Gustavus Adolphus College. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

"Gibbs Tennis Courts." - East of North, Gibbs, Sorenson Halls. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

"Images Swanson Tennis Center - Google Search." Images Swanson Tennis

Center - Google Search. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.