More than 400 players have already signed up for an available 500 memberships to an indoor pickleball facility that is expected to open in South Portland in January.
The Wicked Pickle, now under construction at 2401 Broadway near the town line with Scarborough, will have eight courts, including four professional courts, and will host tournaments, clinics and lessons, owner Tony Miner said. It will also have a lounge, a smoothie bar and a full-service cafe.
Miner says there’s a big need for the 25,500-square-foot facility. While there are indoor pickleball courts across Maine to accommodate the fast-growing sport, most are located within municipal recreational centers or are indoor spaces that have been converted for pickleball use.
“We don’t really have a place like this that’s dedicated strictly to pickleball,” he said. “It’s a brand new build from the ground up, so I can kind of design it the way I’d like.”
Indoor courts are hard to come by when the weather grows cold, he said.
“People are just out and about trying to find any place to play but, during the winter months, it’s tough. There’s just no place to go.”
His space will provide the opportunity for casual play but also will accommodate professional tournaments and spectators.
“The unique part about the facility is it’s wide open,” Miner said. “We’ll have bleachers on each side of the professional courts where people will be able to come in and sit and watch, and we’ll be able to hold tournaments.”
The site plan for The Wicked Pickle pickleball facility, with the entrance off Broadway, across from Postal Service Way, seen at the bottom. Courtesy of The Wicked Pickle
The cafe, which will serve beer, wine and food, will be over 3,000 square feet.
“That space, we’ll have a bottom floor and a top floor looking out over the facility,” Miner said.
The Wicked Pickle will be open to non-members at designated times. Membership includes discounts on open and drop-in play, private court rentals, lessons and league play. Memberships range from $39 to $99 per month.
Miner has capped memberships at 500 while he gets his business off the ground, and 80% of those have already been claimed. He expects to raise that cap in the future.
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