Virgil Christian

Virgil provided the vision for the USTA’s Home of American Tennis, a 100 million dollar tennis Campus, which included the relocation of the United States Tennis Association (the USTA is largest NGB in the world) to Lake Nona, FL. With his partner the Tavistock Group he brokered the deal that moved the USTA from White Plains, New York.

Credited with some of the most innovative changes to happen to collegiate tennis; included are the NCAA format, bringing TV back to college tennis (Tennis Channel, ESPN and Fox sports), creating the College MatchDay TM format and creative driver of tennis facility design at over 100 Universities across the Country.

He recently founded Absolute Padel, the early in the market American Padel Court manufacturer here in the States. They have 4 crafted in America courts with one being a unique padel+pickelball combination court.

He is leading the effort of the Yardley Group in their investing in real estate, developing unique properties in desirable settings, with a Health & Wellness and “Sports District” component.

Drawing on his experiences and work in Peachtree City, GA; Cary, NC and Lake Nona, FL, Yardley Group is developing distinct and innovative models many of them drawing from multiple visions; Smart Cities & Intelligent Communities, CollegeTown USA, Colleges + Capitals. They are also are engaged in design and consulting focusing on large sports venue projects at both at Colleges and Major League Sports Venues.

He has worked with all Power 5 Conferences and Senior Leadership at the NCAAs and was named “Tennis Person of the Year” in 2013 by Racquet Sports Industry Magazine. He has been elected to multiply Athletic Hall of Fames.