Upcoming Pickleball Hub in Visalia: A new 46,000-square-foot indoor pickleball center in Visalia is set to open its doors by April 2025, according to the project developer and building owner, Johnny George of J.F. George Enterprises, Inc. The facility, located at 702 S. Bridge St., will feature 18 courts and is currently under construction. This ambitious project merges two attached buildings—one 32,000 square feet and the other 14,000 square feet—into a single, state-of-the-art pickleball center.
A Shift in Plans and an Unexpected Opportunity
Originally, the city approved plans to demolish a 10,000-square-foot building to create space for a new construction. However, a tenant from an adjacent building negotiated an early exit from their lease, prompting George to rethink the project. This shift allowed the center to be built within the existing structures, a move that not only sped up the process but also leveraged existing resources.
“It’s the fastest-growing sport in America today,” George explained, highlighting pickleball’s explosive popularity. “Over 20 million people are playing it.”
Pickleball’s Rapid Rise Compared to Golf and Tennis
George drew parallels between pickleball’s current growth and the early days of golf and tennis, describing the sport’s expansion as “phenomenal.” The idea to establish a pickleball center in Visalia wasn’t George’s alone; it came from a group of local enthusiasts who saw the sport as a way to enhance the community’s livability.
“We were presented with the opportunity to put pickleball in Visalia,” George noted, crediting private citizens with the initial push. Although he didn’t name names, George emphasized the community-driven nature of the project.
An Unlikely Visionary Behind the Project
Despite his lack of personal interest in sports, George has become the driving force behind this $7 million venture. “I’m not a sportsman,” he admitted. “I’ve never exercised one minute in my whole life… but I’m the perfect candidate. I have the resources to do it, and nobody else will.”
While George hopes the center will be a financial success, his primary motivation seems rooted in contributing to the community. “It is going to enhance the people who are playing,” he said, adding, “and maybe I might get a little enhancement because I own the buildings already.”
News in Brief: Upcoming Pickleball Hub in Visalia
Visalia is set to welcome a new 46,000-square-foot indoor pickleball center by April 2025. The project, led by Johnny George of J.F. George Enterprises, Inc., repurposes two existing buildings at 702 S. Bridge St. into a facility featuring 18 courts. Initially planned as a new construction, the center will now be housed in renovated spaces, thanks to a tenant’s early lease exit. George, though not a sports enthusiast, is investing $7 million in the project, driven by community interest and the sport’s rapid growth across the nation.
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