More indoor pickleball courts in the works for Vancouver, Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — The “world’s largest indoor pickleball entity” is coming to the region with two new facilities in the Portland area.

Last week, Pickleball Kingdom shared it would begin its Pacific Northwest expansion with a new franchise in Vancouver, followed by another space in the Rose City.

Founder and CEO Ace Rodrigues first debuted the company in Arizona in May 2022. The organization is now in the process of opening, or has already opened, around 350 franchises nationwide.

Pickleball Kingdom recently revealed that University of Washington alumnus Gunn Robison will lead the Portland-area openings due to his connection to the region.

“Having grown up in Southwest Washington and starting our careers in Portland, we understand what a great community this is — one that loves to gather around sports and activities,” Robison said in a statement. “People in this region love pickleball. But we all know how the weather here can ruin a great day on the courts. The dedicated indoor clubs we will build will be a true gathering space for our communities to play, to have fun, and to compete!”

He additionally noted the sport’s Pacific Northwest origins. According to USA Pickleball , late Washington Congressman Joel Pritchard and businessman Bill Bell first played the sport in Bainbridge Island in 1965.

Robison’s own experience includes 25 years in the technology sales and marketing industry. He most recently worked as a vice president of marketing at Microsoft, according to Pickleball Kingdom.

The company hasn’t announced the opening dates for its Vancouver and Portland facilities, but they are expected to offer the same features as other locations — such as “state-of-the-art indoor courts,” youth development programs and professional coaching.

However, the rise of pickleball has already brought a number of new businesses to the area. The People’s Courts in Portland and Jumbo’s Pickleball in Beaverton have opened just within the past year.

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