City of Bryan and Texas A&M Mutually Agree to end Planning for Indoor Tennis and Multipurpose Facility

The City of Bryan and The Texas A&M University System have mutually decided not to proceed with the construction of a shared-use, indoor tennis and multipurpose facility at Travis Bryan Midtown Park.

Since October 2023, City staff, contractors, and Texas A&M University representatives have worked collaboratively to develop schematic designs that aim to balance the shared vision with functionality, quality, and fiscal responsibility. Despite these efforts, the latest designs and cost estimates show the project cannot meet expectations within the established budget.

During its regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10, the Bryan City Council took action on the following agenda items related to the proposed facility:

• Terminated the Design/Build Agreement with SpawGlass Construction Corporation, Inc. that had a budget of $17,000,000 to construct an approximately 65,000-square-foot facility to encompass six tennis courts, in accordance with United States Tennis Association and National Collegiate Athletic Association standards, and allow for other sport and event opportunities that could complement the Legends Event Center.
• Terminated the Interlocal Agreement with The Texas A&M University System, which included that Texas A&M would pay the City of Bryan a license fee in an amount not to exceed $675,000 each year during the 30-year agreement; and that the City of Bryan would construct, own, maintain, and operate the facility.
• Approved the second amendment to the Facility Management Agreement between the City of Bryan and Sports Facilities Management, LLC (SFM), which removed the inclusion of Advisor/Operator Services for the proposed facility. SFM currently manages the Legends Event Center.

“While this outcome is not what we had hoped for, I’m proud of the collaboration between the City of Bryan and Texas A&M University. Together, we carefully evaluated the project and determined that moving forward would not allow us to maintain fiscal responsibility without compromising the quality and functionality the community deserves. I want to thank Texas A&M University and all of our partners for their efforts on this project. Although the project will not proceed, the city remains committed to enhancing Travis Bryan Midtown Park and creating meaningful opportunities for Bryan,” said Mayor Bobby Gutierrez.

Susan Ballabina, chief of staff for Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III, stated, “We want to extend our appreciation to Bryan officials for understanding the situation and look forward to continuing to work with them. Texas A&M University is committed to strategically prioritizing its financial resources to better support student-athletes in new and evolving ways. As the landscape of collegiate athletics continues to change with a growing emphasis on Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) opportunities, we recognize the need to adapt to these new challenges. Like the City of Bryan, we also are disappointed that this project will no longer be moving forward.”

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