Ever since I covered the announcement of the new Kraken Kourts development at the end of last year, I’ve been eager to see what the finished venue would look like. The promise of a huge 70,000-square-foot pickleball venue seemed like exactly what the growing D.C. pickleball community needed, and Kraken Kourts has absolutely delivered.
Located in MRP Realty’s Bryant Mills mixed-use development center in the Edgewood neighborhood, Kraken Kourts has taken over a space that used to be a massive department store. The newly refurbished facility features 14 regulation-sized pickleball courts, a tavern, individual cabana areas, and a huge roller skating rink.
The new pickleball facility is the latest venture of Kraken, a brand by Pirate Ventures which is an entertainment-based company that strives to bring high-quality venues to the greater Washington D.C. area. In a recent interview with Washington Business Journal, co-founder and president of Pirate Ventures, Anna Valero, explained that their goal with Kraken is to create inclusive experiences for all guests. Whether you’re part of a family with kids or a team member at a team-building event, you’ll be able to have an experience that feels curated to you.
“What we learned from Hook Hall is people want space where they can gather, that people want to be able to book space in advance for things like parties or celebrations and know that they have dedicated lounge space, and what we know from our other Kraken experiences is people want curated experiences. They want to know that they are coming in and exactly what they’re going to get.”
Anna Valero, Co-Founder and President of Pirate Ventures
Just walking through the front doors of Kraken and you know that you’re in for a good time. From the massive murals that fill the walls to the disco ball above the roller rink, Kraken’s development and design teams made sure that every detail of the venue brings a sense of fun to the atmosphere.
To ensure that visitors get an authentic pickleball experience, Kraken Kourts has partnered with some big names in the pickleball world. Kraken has connected with one of pickleball’s top paddle brands, Joola, who will be providing the venue with paddles for rental, nets at each of this court, and a variety of other items you can pick up at the shop.
Kraken also partnered with D.C. Pickleball Team, one of the Challenger Level teams in Major League Pickleball. The team plans to practice there and host community events to encourage the growth of the sport. D.C. Pickleball Team has proven their commitment to growing the sport recently, as they’ve recently donated equipment to local schools and the University of Maryland.
“Being able to build the relationship out with the folks at Kraken Kourts and spread the word about D.C. Pickleball, and just pickleball in general, is really important. The goal is really, number one, to grow the sport of pickleball itself so as we support them, they support us.”
Adam Behnke, COO of D.C. Pickleball Team
The venue had a successful soft opening on Wednesday this week, and now is officially open to the public this weekend! The facility will be open from 6am-10pm Wednesday-Sunday.
Having such a wide range of hours is to allow the facilities to be inclusive of all types of pickleball players. Seniors and other early birds will have a better chance at having court time in the morning, and the late-night crew and weekend warriors will be able to enjoy the facilities late into the evening. After 9 pm, the venue will be open for guests 21 and up, but all other times of the day are family-friendly.
The courts will offer both open play and court reservation options. All court availability information and pricing are available on Kraken’s website.
