Stanford tennis to play at interim venue next season

Next season, the Stanford men’s and women’s tennis teams will compete at the Arrillaga Tennis Center-Taube Pavilion. In December, the Stanford Board of Trustees approved construction of structural steel over the courts in order to protect them from inclement weather conditions. 

This announcement comes in the wake of Stanford tearing down Taube Tennis Center and replacing it with the new Arrillaga Tennis Center, which is slated to be completed in early 2026. 

“We are excited about the creation of the Arrillaga Tennis Center as a new home for Cardinal tennis,” wrote Stanford athletics spokesperson John Cantalupi. “One of a number of athletics facilities undergoing renovations, the state-of-the-art facility will allow for full viewing of matches on a dozen outdoor courts and include a new two-story tennis center.”

Taube Tennis Center, which has seen 37 combined national title teams between the men’s and women’s programs, has served as a historic site in college tennis. All-time great players like John McEnroe, Venus and Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport and Jimmy Connors have graced the courts of Taube. Despite the stadium’s reconstruction, those associated with the tennis program believe the change will induce positive effects.

“While change can seem difficult, it is inevitable, so I have grown to accept it,” said Mike Orsak ‘82 MBA ‘90, whose family made a significant financial contribution to the stadium.  “Will the new facility help attract top talent? I think so. Many other sports will [also] benefit from the new space given to them.”

The Taube family and former tennis player and donor Craig R. Johnson, who contributed a players lounge to the building, did not respond to requests for comment.