About Us
Building a legacy, together.
A dream this big does not belong to one person. It belongs to a founder, a team, a set of partners, and a growing circle of people who believe in what it can become.
Panther Athletica is a facility, but it is also a promise, made by the people behind it. This page introduces them: the founder driving the dream forward, the team supporting it day to day, the founding partners whose work makes it meaningful, and the ambassadors carrying it into the community.
Purpose
More Than a Place to Play
Panther Athletica is being created as a place where sport, community, and opportunity come together. With tennis and padel at its core, the facility will bring together athletes, families, neighbors, and guests of all ages under one roof. Our purpose extends beyond building a premier racquet sports destination. Through partnerships, youth programming, scholarships, internships, and community involvement, Panther Athletica aims to make meaningful opportunities more accessible while creating a place people genuinely enjoy being part of.
Team
The people building it.
Bill Bastian
Founder
Bill Bastian is the driving force behind Panther Athletica. What began as a personal passion for tennis and a deep connection to this community became a dream: to give the next generation of Indiana athletes a place to grow, year-round, without limits. Bill leads the development from the ground up, from the first sketch of the facility to the partnerships that will make it a true community asset.
Maggie Keenan
Executive Assistant
Maggie Keenan keeps the vision moving. As Bill’s personal executive assistant, she works alongside him across every part of the project, from scheduling and coordination to keeping the many people involved in Panther Athletica connected and informed.
Founding Partners · Community Impact
Built alongside those already doing the work.
Long before Panther Athletica, two organizations were already using tennis to change lives across Indiana. We are proud to call them our founding partners.
Founded by Indiana's own Rajeev Ram, a six-time major champion and two-time Olympic medalist, the foundation fosters the positive impact of tennis on youth across Indiana — through grants and scholarships for high school teams, aspiring collegiate athletes and high-performance juniors.
Donate to Panther Athletica through the Rajeev Ram Foundation
Naming Opportunities Available
For more than fifty years, Barbara Wynne’s ITEF has used tennis as a vehicle for education and opportunity across Indianapolis. What began in 1969 as a program to bring tennis to city youth has grown into a foundation that develops junior players, teaches life skills and ensures every child has the chance to grow through the game.
Donate to Panther Athletica through the Indianapolis Tennis and Education Foundation
Naming Opportunities Available
Together, ITEF and the Rajeev Ram Foundation are the reason this destination matters. Panther Athletica exists to expand the reach of their work, not replace it.
Ambassadors
The people carrying this dream forward.
Panther Athletica is championed by a growing circle of ambassadors, coaches, athletes, community leaders, and partners who believe in what this place can become and help share that story.
Kati Shebek
Interior Design Coordinator
Volunteer
Michael (Misha) Rabinowitch
Attorney
Dinsmore
Sam Miles
Butler Tennis Head Coach
Butler University
Scott Schmelzer
Founding Tennis Consultant
Community
Built for Indianapolis. Connected to Our Community.
Panther Athletica is designed to serve more than its members. Our location in the Nora community places us alongside schools, families, businesses, and organizations that have helped shape this area for generations. We look forward to working with community partners to expand access to tennis and padel, support youth development, create employment and internship opportunities, and welcome tournaments, programs, and events that bring people together. From a young athlete stepping onto the court for the first time to a family spending an afternoon at the facility, we want Panther Athletica to be a place where people feel welcome, connected, and inspired to participate.
Hiring
Hiring in phases toward 2028.
Opening a facility like Panther Athletica will take a team with many different talents. As we move toward our planned 2028 opening, hiring will happen in phases so key leaders can help build their departments before larger teams come on board.
Approximate Timing
Hiring Focus
Mid–Late 2027
Tennis & Padel Leadership • Restaurant Management • Childcare Director • Key Facility/Operations Leadership
Late 2027–Early 2028
Tennis & Padel Professionals • Childcare Lead Staff/Teachers • Culinary Leadership • Administrative & Member Services
Early–Mid 2028
Servers • Hosts • Bartenders • Café Team • Childcare Staff • Front Desk/Guest Services • Maintenance & Facility Staff • Additional Tennis & Padel Staff
Timing and positions are preliminary and may change as we approach opening.
Tell us about yourself
Interested in Joining Us?
We may not be hiring for every position yet, but we would love to hear from people interested in being part of Panther Athletica. Submit an interest form to tell us a little about yourself and the area of the facility that interests you. We'll keep your information on file as opportunities become available.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Who is behind Panther Athletica?
Panther Athletica is being brought to life by a team of individuals and organizations with experience across business, racquet sports, community programming, design, construction, technology, and hospitality. Our team will continue to grow as we move closer to opening in 2028.
Are all the people featured on the Panther Athletica team employees?
No. Panther Athletica is still in development, and the people featured on our team represent a combination of project leaders, partners, advisors, and professional organizations helping bring the facility to life. Our full operating team will be built as we approach opening.
Why is Panther Athletica being created?
Panther Athletica was created around a belief that sport can do more than provide recreation. We are building a high-quality destination for tennis and padel while creating opportunities for youth, families, athletes, and the surrounding community to connect, learn, compete, and grow.
How will Panther Athletica support the community?
Community impact is being considered from the beginning - not added after the facility opens. Plans include youth access to tennis, scholarships, internships, partnerships with local organizations, employment opportunities, and programming designed to connect Panther Athletica with the broader Indianapolis community.
Is Panther Athletica a nonprofit organization?
Panther Athletica itself is a business, but community impact is an important part of what we are building. We are working alongside nonprofit and community partners to help expand access to tennis and create opportunities for young people.
How can my organization partner with Panther Athletica?
We welcome conversations with organizations and businesses interested in supporting Panther Athletica's community, youth, sports, and educational initiatives. As the facility develops, partnership opportunities will continue to evolve.
Where can I follow Panther Athletica's progress?
Our News & Updates section will share milestones, project announcements, community partnerships, and other developments as we work toward opening Panther Athletica in 2028.
Can I get involved before Panther Athletica opens?
Yes. There are opportunities to get involved well before opening, whether through community partnerships, project support, future employment, or helping advance Panther Athletica's mission. Visit our Support page or contact our team to learn more.
This dream has a name, a team, and a growing circle of people behind it. Join them.
News & Updates
Follow along as Panther Athletica takes shape.
From construction milestones to community partnerships to the people bringing this dream to life, this is where you watch a legacy being built.
Construction Timeline
The road to 2028.
2026
Full Year
Design, Planning & Preconstruction
Fall
Sitework Begins
Winter
Foundations & Building Structure
2027
Spring
Begin Steel Erection
Summer
Exterior Construction
Fall
Interior Buildout Begins
Winter
Tennis Courts & Athletic Spaces
2028
Early
Restaurant, Office, Childcare & Amenity Buildout
Spring
Interior Finishes, Landscaping & Final Details
August
Panther Athletica Opens
