Scottsdale, Arizona, will stake its claim as the pickleball capital of the United States.
A new pickleball venue company, PURE Pickleball, announced plans to build its first facility on an 11-acre plot near Talking Stick Resort & Casino in Scottsdale. It will be the largest pickleball facility in Arizona and one of the largest in the world, and expects to open in fall 2024.
The facility will be the official headquarters and training center for USA Pickleball, the sport’s American governing body.
PURE’s co-founders signed a venture agreement with local real estate manager and developer Caliber for the project. Financial terms of the deal or expected construction costs were not disclosed.
“The demand for pickleball continues to exceed all expectations,” said Caliber senior vice president for real ester Brian Snider. “We are very excited to be a part of this project and believe there is strong interest in the opportunity to invest in such a promising venture. We see opportunity for growth in this concept nationwide.”
Construction will be done in phases. Phase 1 will include the building of 28 over-sized indoor pickleball courts, which will each have state-of-the-art court technology, private gating, and video camera setups for streaming or recording matches.
The centerpiece of the indoor portion will be the “Championship Court” — a 500-seat stadium with production capabilities to televise matches. Other amenities inside will include a pro shop, café, men’s and women’s locker rooms, and private event spaces.
In later phases, PURE and Caliber plan to build 16 outdoor courts with professional lighting, a member clubhouse with restaurant and bar, two rooftop courts, member locker rooms, full gym, as well as childcare and after-school tutoring services.
It’s the type of facility that could host and hype up the professional game, especially as it continues to grow: In September, Major League Pickleball and the PPA Tour merged with $50 million in new investment.
