A new southwest Las Vegas pickleball entertainment venue featuring multiple courts, five of which will be indoors, is approaching completion.
Electric Pickle, led by Paul Frederick, founder of Eureka Restaurant Group, is set to open its doors at The Bend on Sunset Road and Durango Drive in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Engaging, Urban And Mixed-Use Concept
Paul envisions an engaging, urban mixed-use project that promises an enjoyable time for all: “We are a hospitality-based company, and that’s really what’s driving the majority of the business model for Electric Pickle.
“It’s just a big entertainment restaurant, where you have 10 pickleball courts and lots of little fun activations that (keep) people entertained.”
Alongside its Las Vegas location, Electric Pickle is also expected to open premises in Arizona, California, and Texas.
According to its strategic partner, Knighthead Capital Management, based in New York, the facility will include private cabañas, outdoor amenities like televisions and fireplaces, as well as various other attractions.
Parallels With Top Golf
The concept parallels the experience offered at Top Golf, a popular golf and entertainment destination near the Strip.
Electric Pickle’s focus is on presenting pickleball as an enjoyable pastime, utilizing elements like live music, themed evenings, and potential tournaments to enhance the experience.
“We’ll have this kind of neat, urban, mixed-use project,” says Paul. “It’s going to be fun.”
Pickleball’s robust growth has solidified its status as the fastest-growing sport in the country for the third consecutive year, according to the 2023 Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s Topline Participation Report.
Demand For Pickleball Has Outstripped Supply
In Las Vegas, the demand for dedicated pickleball facilities has outstripped the current supply.
Patti Chess, 10-year pickleball veteran and a board member of Southern Nevada Pickleball, a local nonprofit focused on promoting the sport, emphasized the need for additional courts, especially indoors, to provide respite from the region’s scorching temperatures.
She also mentions the multigenerational appeal and competitive spirit of pickleball contribute to its popularity, creating a tight-knit community among players:
“I have met more people than I ever would have met in my life from all walks of life.
“They talk about pickleball saving the community, and I get it because we’re sitting by people (and) we’re getting to know them. COVID kind of brought people away — pickleball brings them back together.”
Pickleball Hubs
Private facilities like Electric Pickle will serve as hubs for players to come together, offering a meeting ground beyond public courts. This enables players to connect with others of similar skill levels and interests, fostering a sense of community.
Courtney Loughridge, secretary of Southern Nevada Pickleball’s board of directors and whose young son is a sponsored pickleball athlete, talked about the sheer enjoyment and addictive nature of the sport.
“It really is super fun. And it’s the weirdest thing ever because most people, once they play, become obsessed.”
A Positive, Exciting Name
Frederick attributes pickleball’s success to its accessibility and the rapid development of skills among players.
“The brand was originated by a feeling, like an emotion,” he says. “So when you feel good, you feel alive – you feel electric. And so that’s how we arrived at kind of a positive, exciting name that we could build a brand around.”
