Outdoor Courts Complete at Nielsen
The Wisconsin tennis teams are afforded a competitive advantage by playing year-round at Nielsen Tennis Stadium, ranked by USTA as one of the finest tennis facilities in the country. The stadium features 20 tennis courts (12 indoor and eight outdoor), five singles squash courts, and one squash doubles court.
In the spring of 2019, UW debuted its new outdoor tennis stadium, which now features eight playing courts, elevated grandstands to accommodate up to 800 spectators, outdoor lighting in addition to a main scoreboard and individual scoreboards on each court.
From 1988 to 2010, Nielsen Stadium served as the site for the USTA/ITA Women's National Indoor Team Tennis Championship. The outdoor courts were utilized for the 1991 Big Ten Women's Championship and the 1992 Big Ten Men's Championship. Most recently, the 2009 Big Ten Women's Championship was held at Nielsen. The facility has also served as the site for the Wisconsin Boys' and Girls' High School Championship, the USTA League State Championship, the Badger State Games, the men's collegiate Rolex Midwest Qualifier as well as numerous NCAA Division III regional and conference championships.
More than 6,000 students, faculty and community players use the facilities at Nielsen on a weekly basis. The stadium also features shower and locker areas as well as upper-level seating for more than 1,500 spectators.
In the summer of 2012, Nielsen received new court surfaces, enhanced lighting as well as a main scoreboard and individual electronic scoreboards at each court.
The Nielsen Tennis Stadium was built in 1968 for $2 million, and is now valued at nearly $9 million. The facility is a fitting tribute to Arthur C. Nielsen, founder of the television rating system. Nielsen, a UW graduate in electrical engineering, captained the Wisconsin men's tennis team from 1916-18.
Following in his father's footsteps, Arthur C. Nielsen Jr. also captained his Badger teammates during the 1940-41 season. In competition together, the Nielsens won two U.S. National Father & Son Tennis Championship titles. Nielsen, Jr. continues to be an active supporter of UW tennis and has participated in various celebrity fund raisers for women's tennis through the years.
Parking at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium is available on the west side of the stadium in Lot 66, which is accessible from Highland Ave. Metered parking is available in Lots 76, 60 and 70 off University Bay Drive. Bike racks are available near the main entrance to the facility.
Directions
The Nielsen Tennis Stadium is located near the Lakeshore Dormitories on the west end of campus at 1000 Highland Drive.
From the east side of Madison: From Interstate 90/39, take Hwy 12/18 west. Merge on John Nolen Drive via ext 263. Turn left on S Broom Street. Make a slight left on W Gorham Street. Turn right on University Ave. Make a slight right onto Campus Drive. Take the Highland Ave ramp, and turn right on Highland Ave. After about 0.5 miles, Nielsen Tennis Stadium is on the right.
From the west side of Madison: From Hwy 12/18, head east on Mineral Point Road/CR-S. Continue to follow CR-S. Stay straight to go onto Highland Ave. for 0.8 miles. Nielsen Tennis Stadium is on the right.
