MAC Capital Campaign

Support MAC to make an IMPACT

The Madison Aquatic Center, located at 316 Yard Drive in Madison, WI, is excited to announce its official opening in January! This new facility is the culmination of the vision of Shane Ryan and Janis Katz, founders of the Madison Aquatic Club.

The Madison Aquatic Club has truly come a long way since its inception, transforming from a small group of 30 swimmers in the summer of 2015 to an impressive 300 dedicated athletes today. Operating across eight different facilities over the past decade has not deterred MAC; instead, it has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, earning recognition as one of the fastest-growing clubs in the U.S.

The club not only focuses on competitive swimming but also prioritizes the development of young swimmers through its lesson program, instilling both foundational skills and a passion for the sport. With the upcoming Madison Aquatic Center, MAC will finally have a dedicated home, enabling it to further nurture talent and strengthen its vibrant community. This new facility will surely be a catalyst for continued growth and success in the future.

To support the growth of the club team and address the challenges of facility access and availability, Shane and Janis embarked on a mission to create a dedicated multipurpose aquatics facility for MAC and the Madison community. Their vision began in 2019, just before the pandemic caused delays in the project.

Undeterred, Shane and Janis assembled a talented team, collaborating with the Forbair Group, led by Nick McDonald, and One Design & Engineering, headed by Patrick Eagan. Together, they designed a state-of-the-art facility and explored various building sites before identifying a suitable location in the Silicon Prairie Business Park. This site ultimately met all the requirements for a multipurpose aquatics facility, paving the way for MAC’s sustainable future and ongoing success.

The collaborative effort resulted in a remarkable 27,000 square foot facility, featuring a 12,500 square foot natatorium. This includes a 10-lane, 25-yard training and competition pool, alongside a 4-lane, 25-yard warm water multi-use pool designed for swimming lessons, training, rehabilitation, birthday parties, lifeguard training, and cool-downs for competitions.

The first floor boasts 8,500 square feet of amenities, including a welcoming lobby, a fitness center, locker rooms, and offices. On the second floor, there’s an additional 6,000 square feet dedicated to a multi-use mezzanine, which features a second fitness center with turf, offering a stunning view of the natatorium as well as the lobby and fitness areas. This facility was built with our members and the community in mind, custom-designed to prioritize health, safety, and performance for all who use it.

Save Lives, Change Lives, Enhance Lives

Drowning is a heartbreaking reality, particularly for our youth. It is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death among children aged 1 to 4 years, as highlighted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This makes it vital to promote water safety and swimming education to help prevent these tragic incidents.

At the Madison Aquatic Center, we are deeply committed to our mission: to save lives, change lives, and enhance the well-being of everyone in our community. We’re excited to work with local organizations to provide learn-to-swim opportunities for community centers, preschools, grade schools, homeschoolers, high school students, and adults.

Our facility is designed to meet the diverse needs of our community, ensuring that everyone has equal access to the MAC. With our warm-water lesson and training pool, we’re equipped to teach infants, children, and adults through our SwimAmerica Lessons Program.

Importantly, we have a firm commitment: no one will be turned away from learning to swim due to financial constraints. Each year, we independently provide over $25,000 to support those who wish to participate in our aquatic programs but cannot afford it.



By supporting the MAC, you help us open these vital opportunities to even more members of our community. Together, we can make a profound impact on the lives of many. Thank you for your trust and support as we strive to save, change, and enhance lives through the power of swimming!

Our Vision for Local Competitions

The Madison Aquatic Center is designed to be a premier facility not just for swimming lessons and training, but also as an exceptional competitive venue. With state-of-the-art features like a custom Innovent HVAC system and Clear Comfort AOP water treatment systems, we ensure some of the cleanest, clearest, and most comfortable pool air and water in the country—critical for both participants and spectators.



Our natatorium can accommodate 500 people, with an additional 500 in a 6,000 square foot mezzanine offering direct views of the pool. The facility includes ten lanes dedicated to competition, along with four lanes for warm-up and cool-down. This design allows for shorter competition timelines and provides athletes ample opportunities to prepare effectively, enhancing their overall performance.

With your support, the MAC can become a premier destination for swimming competitions in our region. By enhancing our facility, we can host more local events that benefit athletes, families, and our entire community. We invite you to join us in creating a nurturing environment where our athletes can truly thrive.

At the Madison Aquatic Center (MAC), we are dedicated to prioritizing local swim competitions. Many families understand that attending out-of-town events can be financially burdensome, often exceeding $1,000 for just a three-day trip when considering lodging, gas, and food. Unfortunately, the limited availability of local meets means that MAC is required to travel at least once a month for competitions.

Madison is recognized as one of the top five swimming communities in the country, but the high demand for local pool facilities from community programs, high school swim teams, and college athletes complicates our ability to secure venues for regular practice and events.

We are proud to be the only competitive swim team and swim lessons provider in the area with a dedicated aquatics facility, enabling us to host competitions consistently throughout the year. However, to make our facility competition-ready, we need your support to purchase essential upgrades.



1. Cost Savings: Keeping competitions local reduces travel expenses and time for athletes and families, allowing them to focus on performance.
2. Improved Performance: Athletes benefit from sleeping in their own beds and maintaining their usual routines, which contributes to better performances.
3. Community Impact: Hosting events locally supports businesses in our area—vendors, restaurants, and hotels—helping to strengthen our community’s economy.
   

Impact on the Swimming Community

Investing in this equipment will have a transformative impact on the swimming community in several ways:

1. Enhanced Competition Experience: A state-of-the-art timing system and scoreboard will provide accurate results and improve the overall professionalism of our events. This ensures that athletes can compete in an environment that reflects the high standards of their sport.
2. Increased Participation: With improved facilities, we can attract more swimmers and teams to compete locally. This will not only enhance competition levels but also foster a sense of camaraderie and community spirit among participants and their families.
3. Accessibility for All: New bleachers and a superior sound system will create a more welcoming environment for spectators, allowing families and friends to cheer on their athletes comfortably. This encourages greater community involvement and support for our swimmers.
4. Quality of Events: Upgraded acoustic control will minimize distractions and enhance the atmosphere during competitions. Athletes will perform better in a focused environment, which can lead to improved times and personal bests.
5. Legacy for Future Generations: By establishing the MAC as a premier venue for swimming competitions, we are laying the groundwork for future generations of swimmers. Our investment in quality equipment will ensure that young athletes have access to the best facilities, inspiring them to pursue their passion for the sport.
   

Race to the Finish!

To achieve our upgrades and host competitions promptly while addressing current expenses, we need to raise $500,000. Your contributions will directly enhance our facility and improve the experience for both our athletes and the community. Thank you for considering this opportunity to invest in our future. Together, we can create a vibrant aquatic facility that benefits everyone!



To successfully host larger, professional events, we require additional equipment that will greatly enhance the experience for our swimmers, families, and spectators. Our specific needs include:

Why we need your SUPPORT

Our facility is fully equipped for training, lessons, and memberships, and we are eager to serve our community. While we initially aimed to complete this project independently, rising costs and unexpected expenses have prompted us to seek financial assistance as we near the end of construction. The pandemic has significantly impacted our original budget, making it challenging for just two individuals to fund such an ambitious endeavor.



Designed with convenience and stability in mind, our facility will provide a welcoming home for both current and future members, ensuring accessibility for everyone. To bring this vision to fruition and achieve financial stability, we need the support of our community.

Since beginning this journey in 2019, we have encountered a number of unforeseen challenges. These include extensive earthwork required to prepare the site and a mandate from the City to install an elevator for ADA compliance. Additionally, delays in construction stemming from permit approvals and material availability have led to rising costs compared to our original projections.

The Madison area deserves a truly accessible facility dedicated to families and community fitness, open year-round. Learning to swim is essential for lifelong enjoyment and safety, as well as health and wellness for both adults and children. MAC is committed to providing this vital opportunity.

How You Can Contribute

We invite you to support the Madison Aquatic Center in three impactful ways:

1. Join Our Capital Campaign: Your contributions will help build a strong foundation for swimming education and ensure accessibility for all. By partnering with local organizations, we aim to provide lessons to those in need, fostering a love for aquatics and potentially saving lives. Leave your mark on our Contribution Wall and show your support. Your contributions will not only save lives but also change and enhance them. Together, we can make dreams come true!
2. MAC Advertising Packages: Support a cause you believe in while reaching potential customers by advertising with MAC! By partnering with us, your company will gain visibility and demonstrate your commitment to hard work, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence. With up to 1,000 members visiting our facility daily, your brand will be seen by a large and engaged audience. Show that you care about the community and the lives we touch together. Let’s make a difference!
3. Loan Program: We are seeking partners to help us realize our vision of the "pool of dreams." If you’re interested in investing in a project that benefits the community and provides a return on your support, we offer opportunities for structured loans. Help us save time, travel, and money while investing in something meaningful. If you’ve ever dreamed of building something great, you understand the dedication it takes. For more information, please reach out to Shane Ryan at shane@trainmac.com to discuss options and terms.
   

Legend $25,000

12" Acrylic Plaque

Olympic $15,000

10" Acrylic Plaque

International $10,000

8" Acrylic Plaque

National $5,000

6" Acrylic Plaque

Gold $2,500

4" Acrylic Plaque

Silver $1,000

2" Acrylic Plaque

Bronze $500

1" Acrylic Plaque

Friends $100

Name listed on the wall

Or support with a custom amount

Have a business? Advertise with MAC!

Thank You!

We appreciate your time, consideration, and support. If you have questions or would like to tour the MAC, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We are committed to providing our community with the best programming for health, wellness, and a love for aquatics. Thank you for helping us make a difference!