[Pictures Added] Ribbon-Cutting Weekend for $19 Million Greensboro Aquatic Center Features Katie Hoff Appearance, US Synchro National Team Performance

This Thursday, August 25th, 2011, will be the official opening of the brand-new, $19-million Greensboro Aquatic Center. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place Thursday at 6 PM, which will kick off a three-day open house weekend.

Among the highlights of the weekend will be a performance by the U.S. Synchronized Swimming National Team, as well as an appearance by three-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Hoff on Saturday at 4 PM sponsored by Speedo.

This facility, which has been met with some resistance from the local community (as aquatics projects of this size often are) will feature a 50-meter main-pool bookended by a 25-yard ‘therapeutic pool’ and a 25 yard diving pool, equipped with a full compliment of springboards and platforms. It has speectator seating for 1,848, in addition to another 652 bleacher seats for athletes. When configured for short course, the facility is equipped for a total of 38 25 yard lanes altogether.

Among the earliest major renters of this facility will be the 2012 YMCA Short Course Nationals, which were wrestled away from Ft. Lauderdale for the first time in years. It will also host the 2012 Masters Short Course National Championships.

There has been some speculation that the ACC, which already has a strong connection with the Greensboro area, might consider hosting their Conference Championship meet in the facility. The conference has already brought a ton of experience to the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, where the new aquatic center will be located. The Greensboro Coliseum has hosted 25 ACC men’s basketball tournaments.

The pool will officially open to the public, for good, on September 12th.

Check out shots of ths inside of the the aquatics center below.

Full pool specs and information available here.