Greensboro Rises as a Pickleball Hub: Building on its reputation as a sports hub, Greensboro, North Carolina, is poised to make a significant leap in the world of pickleball. This morning, the Greensboro Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (GACVB) unveiled one of the country’s largest portable indoor pickleball facilities. The Greensboro Complex will feature 40 courts, a project spearheaded by Canton, Georgia-based AT Sports. These courts, valued at $450,000, are expected to elevate the city’s ability to host top-tier pickleball tournaments.
Investment Drives Major Event Opportunities
GACVB President & CEO Henri Fourrier explained that this substantial investment opens the door for Greensboro to host some of the most prestigious pickleball events in the nation. “This investment allows us to recruit and host the biggest and most prestigious pickleball tournaments in the country,” Fourrier said.
The courts are already rolling in, with several having been delivered to the complex’s nine-venue setup. The remaining courts are slated to arrive by early 2025. But Greensboro is not wasting time in making a mark. It has already secured a major event with USA Pickleball, the Golden Ticket tournament, which will be the only one on the East Coast where amateur players can qualify for the National Championships. Scheduled for May 28 to June 1, 2025, the event is expected to draw between 600 and 800 participants.
Economic Impact and City Rankings
The Golden Ticket tournament is expected to generate significant economic activity. The GACVB projects that the event will lead to 3,375 rooms booked, bringing in over $2 million to the local economy. The city, with its 98 hotels and 10,785 rooms, is already a favorite destination for sports tourism.
Greensboro’s sports profile continues to rise. Earlier this year, Sports Business Journal ranked Greensboro as the second-best U.S. city without a Big Five pro team when it comes to attracting major sporting events. With a surge in pickleball participation—13.6 million people played the sport in 2023, with youth participation growing rapidly—the city’s investment in facilities couldn’t have come at a better time.
The National Scene
As Greensboro’s new complex rises, it follows in the footsteps of major venues like the Hawaii Convention Center, which debuted 45 new pickleball courts last month. However, Greensboro’s facility will be the largest portable indoor setup in the country, reinforcing its place in the national pickleball scene.
News in Brief: Greensboro Rises as a Pickleball Hub
Greensboro, NC, unveils one of the largest portable indoor pickleball facilities in the country, featuring 40 courts and a $450,000 investment. The city has secured the Golden Ticket tournament, offering East Coast amateurs a chance to qualify for the National Championships in 2025. The event is expected to generate $2M for the local economy, with more than 3,000 hotel room nights projected. The complex’s debut solidifies Greensboro’s growing status as a hub for major sporting events.
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