Next Level Pickleball’s One-Court Wonder: John Murphy, a Green Bay resident who might be considered a local pickleball champion, found himself searching for a place to play in his city. Despite the growing interest in the sport, options remained limited.
“Got in during covid, when people were looking for things to do, other places were filling up, so now we got another location for people to come out to play at.” – (John Murphy)
At 8 a.m. on a Sunday, Murphy was one of the first to step onto the court at Next Level Pickleball’s newest location in New Franken. This venue marks the second indoor pickleball court the company has opened, following the successful debut of their first facility in Appleton in July.
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Rapid Expansion of Next Level Pickleball
Mark Danen, co-owner of Next Level Pickleball, shared his excitement for the new location, noting how well the company’s concept has resonated with the community.
“We opened up our first location in Appleton in July, and it’s just been going so great we wanted to open another location in the Green Bay area. [We’ve] been completely full all day yesterday and all day today, and just excited to bring this to the community.” – (Mark Danen)
The grand opening of the New Franken pickleball facility took place on a weekend, with the venue’s single-court set-up being a major draw. For $20 per 90-minute session, players get exclusive use of the entire court, which includes private access to the facility and the freedom to choose their music.
“Each of these facilities is like a private facility. It’s one court, when you rent it you rent the entire space. The space is yours, so you’re not going to have to worry about playing with other people, having balls come into your court, other people taking the space. You get to pick the music.” – (Mark Danen)
Meeting Growing Demand with 24-Hour Access
The demand for pickleball in the area has been so high that Next Level Pickleball has extended its hours to accommodate more players.
“We are really open 24 hours, it allows people to play pickleball whatever job they have, sometimes other places aren’t open. The demand is so strong, many of our days we’ve got the court being used 12, 13 hours a day so we knew the demand was there.” – (Mark Danen)
Danen also confirmed that the company is already planning to expand further in northeast Wisconsin, possibly opening a third location in the Fox Valley or Green Bay area.
“100%, we’re already talking about our third location. We will be growing, there’s definitely a need. Pickleball’s been around for a while, but it is really starting to take off. I think with all sorts of demographics of people, it’s a sport you can get into when you’re younger, when you’re older.” – (Mark Danen)
Pickleball: Fun, Fitness, and Social Connection
For Murphy, the appeal of pickleball is undeniable, and he encourages anyone who hasn’t yet tried the sport to get involved.
“It’s great exercise, it’s a social sport too, a lot of fun, and anybody can play at it, you can get good right away. There’s tons of people, you’ll know somebody. Just ask around and you’ll pick it up real quick.” – (John Murphy)
Health Considerations for New Players
While medical experts agree that pickleball is a sport for everyone, they also warn players about the risk of injury, especially as the sport grows in popularity. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that injuries related to pickleball have nearly doubled in recent years.
Experts recommend players stretch beforehand and wear proper footwear—specifically shoes with sturdy soles, not running shoes—to avoid sudden injuries on the court.
News in Brief: Next Level Pickleball’s One-Court Wonder
Next Level Pickleball’s second indoor pickleball facility in New Franken has seen overwhelming success since its grand opening. The 24-hour, single-court setup offers private access to players, and the company is already planning future expansions.
Co-owner Mark Danen emphasizes pickleball’s appeal for all ages and abilities, while players like John Murphy tout the sport’s fun, social, and fitness benefits. Despite its growing popularity, experts caution that players should stretch and wear proper footwear to avoid injuries.
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