Georgia AD Josh Brooks wants NCAA to reconsider tennis championship decision

As the final match in this year’s NCAA Tennis Championships was underway in Athens Sunday evening, Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks took to social media to make a plea for the event to have a chance to return again sooner after next year.

Georgia is hosting the men’s and women’s quarterfinals, semifinals and championship matches again in 2027 at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, but it will be held at the The USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. for 10 years from 2028 to 2037.

That was announced by the NCAA in December of 2024.

This year’s NCAA Championships is the first held at Georgia since 2017 and the 33rd time overall it has been in Athens which many consider the “mecca of college tennis.”

“I respectfully ask the NCAA tennis oversight committee to reevaluate the 10 year commitment that was made to Orlando,” Brooks said in a post on X. “A decision that was essentially made behind closed doors without giving any campus sites and opportunity to bid on any of those years. I haven’t met one athlete, coach or fan that prefers this tournament to be played on off campus sites.”

I respectfully ask the NCAA tennis oversight committee to reevaluate the 10 year commitment that was made to Orlando. A decision that was essentially made behind closed doors without giving any campus sites an opportunity to bid on any of those years. I haven’t met one athlete,… pic.twitter.com/1dTuPjU7vg

— Josh Brooks (@Brooks_UGA) May 17, 2026

The Georgia women’s tennis team lost in the semifinals on Saturday night after winning the national title in 2025.

College coaches whose teams have played in Athens for the event this year heaped praise on the experience and the atmosphere.

Virginia men’s coach Andres Pedroso, whose team beat Texas for the national title Sunday, said earlier in the week: “This place has so much history. It has a vibe. When you think of NCAAs, you think of the University of Georgia. It’s a special place. You can just feel the ghosts, the college tennis ghosts, just roaming around and watching the matches and maybe even cheering a little bit. It gives you goose bumps, so this is the place.”

TCU men’s coach David Roditi said Athens is “the place to play. You can’t be an elite college player and not get this. This is special. Hopefully, the USTA will create the same in Orlando. …The whole history of college tennis is right here. It’s very special. I hope we’re still around and we still have the sport, and we get back here at some point.”

Georgia will host the men’s and women’s singles and doubles championships also this fall as it has shifted from the spring.

The USTA and UCF are hosting the team event from 2028-2037.

“The USTA is building six additional indoor courts with seating and constructing additional spectator seating for the existing six indoor courts, while adding shade structures at the 12 outdoor competition courts,” the NCAA said in its release. “An additional capital improvement is for improved scoreboards for all competition courts, including live scoring and broadcast integration. The USTA also will be making an enhanced financial commitment to the championships, including supplementing existing broadcast agreements and increased fan and community engagement. With the proposed improvements, the USTA National Campus will be the only facility with all 12 outdoor competition courts, 20 practice courts and 12 total indoor courts at one site.”

Georgia spent $35.2 million on upgrades since the event was last here, building a six-court indoor facility, a new grandstand to Henry Feild Stadium with lower level chair back seating, permanent concession stands, restrooms and a 1,750-square foot press box for a venue that seats more than 5,000.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia AD wants NCAA tennis championships back in Athens sooner after 2027