Heart of America Athletic Conference Partners with 516 Sports Capital
An official sports surface consultant for tennis in pickleball
The Heart of America Athletic Conference has 516 Sports Capital, as the a sports surface consultant for tennis and pickleball. The Heart started sponsoring tennis as a championship sport in 2024-25 and pickleball is experiencing growth in the intercollegiate athletics circles.
516 Sports Capital is an expert in tennis and pickleball facility development along with many other areas of expertise, providing premium surfaces and consulting that help colleges and communities build courts designed for performance and long-term value.
"As a coach, builder, and educator, I've seen how the right surface transforms an athlete's performance," said Michael Barnes, Principal of 516 Sports Capital. "We're proud to bring that experience to the Heart and its member institutions."
Nik Rule, Commissioner of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, welcomed the partnership stating, "Our mission with partnerships is to be a connector to our member institutions to partners who are going to help them enhance the student-athlete experience, and part of that is ensuring institutions have access to expert partners who understand both performance and long-term value. 516 Sports Capital brings a wealth of knowledge, and we're excited to see the impact this collaboration will have on our campuses."