A magnificent pickleball facility will soon grace St. Louis on the corner of Olive Boulevard and Highway 170. The venue is Padel + Pickle Club, and they are touting it as the “World’s Largest Indoor Padel + Pickleball Club.” The website boasts that the club plans on featuring eight state-of-the-art advanced Cushionmaster II pickleball courts and six panoramic padel courts.
Padel + Pickle Club aims to be more than just a sports club, offering an all-encompassing experience that members and guests can enjoy, explicitly catering to the fastest-growing sport and the burgeoning paddle sports industry. Scheduled to open in winter 2023, this impressive facility’s creators aim for something more significant than just a flagship club in St. Louis.
They have set their sights on establishing a new concept based on luxury tennis. With a modern format tailored toward the up-and-coming paddle sports, they hope to inspire the creation of similar clubs throughout the United States.
In addition to the state-of-the-art courts, the Padel + Pickle Club of St. Louis plans to offer a Pro Shop, access to lessons, locker rooms, a bar, and multiple lounge areas, all focused on emphasizing the social aspects that many cherish in pickleball. Members and guests can unwind and socialize with fellow players at the welcoming bar, which will serve an assortment of sports drinks, non-alcoholic beverages, and alcoholic refreshments.
“The Padel + Pickle Club of St. Louis is more than just a sports club; it’s an all-encompassing experience,” they shared with the Riverfront Times. “Members and guests can luxuriate in the well-appointed locker rooms and shower facilities, ensuring comfort and convenience from start to finish. After the game, wind down and socialize with fellow players at our welcoming bar, serving an assortment of sports drinks, non-alcoholic beverages, and alcoholic refreshments.”
According to the founder Mike Puertas, “St. Louis has a rich history in racquet sports, making it the perfect fit for a new facility that includes two of the fastest-growing sports globally. In creating the world’s largest indoor Padel and Pickleball facility, our vision was to introduce these exhilarating sports to a broader audience and establish a community hub where friends compete and memories are forged.”
While pickleball has divided some communities over noise complaints and turf wars, the Padel + Pickle Club, like many other clubs springing up across the country, is paving the way for standalone pickleball facilities to become successful businesses.
Research by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), which partnered with digital platform Pickleheads on the study, found it would take $902 million to build courts to keep up with the nationwide demand for pickleball. For this reason, private developers are jumping on opportunities in unique places and trending cities to create luxury experiences for players, giving them exclusivity, court rights, and a climate-protected space from the elements.
With its luxurious amenities and focus on socialization, the Padel + Pickle Club of St. Louis is poised to become a top destination for pickleball in the area. The club anticipates opening in December – additional details can be found on the Padel + Pickle website.
