EVERETT — Pickleball fans, ready your paddles, because new indoor courts just opened in south Everett.
The new facility, Side Out Pickleball Centers, features eight indoor courts for the fast-growing sport. When approaching the building, located just south of Paine Field, you can hear the faint snapping sound of pickleball action before you even open the door.
Side Out, which opened Dec. 2 at 2716 119th St. SW, is the first indoor dedicated pickleball facility in the Seattle metro area, said Frank Espinoza, a co-owner of Side Out.
On Wednesday afternoon, the building was packed with pickleball players rallying with friends or practicing their skills.
“We’re almost at our max for memberships,” Espinoza said. “The demand is really high.”
Two years ago, Espinoza had his knee replaced. After trying pickleball as a way to exercise, he “caught the bug,” he said, but couldn’t find a place to play. Along with business partner Dale Garnett the two began searching for a location to open an indoor facility.
Garnett’s son, Connor, is a professional pickleball player, currently No. 3 in the world men’s singles rankings.
“It’s been quite a rush,” Garnett said of the opening. “We’re quite happy with it.”
The building is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Court reservations can be made for $30 per hour. Players can join 2-hour open play sessions for $15. Memberships range from $50 to $75 a month.
A Washington state lawmaker, Joel Pritchard, along with a businessman, Bill Bell, invented pickleball in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, according to USA Pickleball, the sport’s governing body. In 2022, Gov. Jay Inslee named it the official state sport.
It’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the country due to its ease of play, especially for older participants. Pickleball isn’t a favorite for everyone, though, as outdoor courts are sometimes met with controversy over the distinctively loud “whack” noise made when a paddle strikes the plastic ball.
Nick Leggett, a pickleball player from Seattle, was playing at Side Out on Wednesday. He got hooked on the sport nine months ago, and was excited when he heard the facility would open.
“There’s just such a shortage of courts, especially indoor courts,” Leggett said. “I’m really excited, it’s turned out as good or better than I was hoping for.”
The company hopes to open a larger Seattle location next year.
“There’s other places that have restaurants, have more of a Dave and Buster’s kind of environment,” Espinoza said. “But we’re all about the pickleball.”
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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