FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Pickleball is a sport that actually started back in the 60’s but exploded during Covid.
On Sunday, dozens gathered at The Fort in Fort Lauderdale to celebrate the opening of the world’s first pickleball stadium.
“We said we have to go all out, so what’s never been done before? A pickleball stadium!” said The Fort co-founder Brad Tuckman. “We have 43 courts, 14 of them are underneath the cover so you can play rain or shine, and then we also have the world’s first pickleball stadium right behind me.”
It’s an idea that started five years ago that is now a reality.
The facility is located right next to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Southwest 34th Street.
“We are just very pleased to be able to host a facility such as this,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis. “You see how active it is.”
Active, competitive, and it engages people of all ages.
“We literally take you through the first class, and from there you join a little WhatsApp group,” said Tuckman. “From there, you have a whole little community of people. If you want to continue to learn, we have everything in place to do so.”
Besides pickleball, ‘the fort’ also has a lake for water activities, a restaurant, and places to relax after a match or two.
Trantalis said it is a great example of a public-private project.
“For folks to understand how the city can work with private enterprise, to create the public-private partnerships, and to allow the city to monetize some of its assets that have been sitting dormant for so many years,” he said.
The Fort is open every day, including holidays.
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