A dreary summer day in Connecticut is a fitting backdrop for the debut of the state’s newest indoor athletic facility – one of the largest indoor pickleball venues in the nation.
The grand opening of Pickleball America at the Stamford Town Center mall on Monday comes amid the explosive popularity of pickleball and the decline of brick-and-mortar retail stores.
The 28-court complex is situated in a former Saks off 5th department store, which closed in 2021. The mall is located at 140 Atlantic St., in downtown Stamford.
The pickleball facility has lockers, showers, a lounge and café. Private and group lessons, along with league play, are available. The courts are open seven days per week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
A standard membership costs $199 per person annually, or $99 for seniors, teachers, students and first-responders/military personnel. Family memberships also are offered. Court rentals for members cost $67.50 per hour, or $75 per hour for non-members.
Pickleball, an amalgamation of tennis, ping-pong and badminton, is considered the fastest-growing sport in the United States. The number of pickleball players grew by 159% over three years to 8.9 million in 2022, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
At the same time, U.S. malls have been repurposing retail space as they lose anchor tenants and see dwindling foot traffic from shoppers.
Recently, a large bounce park, called Funbox, opened at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford.
Pickleball America is leasing more than 80,000 square feet or space in the Stamford Town Center. The deal was brokered by real estate firm Houlihan Lawrence’s commercial division. Mia Schipani, of Houlihan Lawrence’s Greenwich office, is one of four founding partners of Pickleball America.
For more information, visit pickleballamerica.us.
