A Pickler's Paradise

by Morgan Cole

Move over, tennis! There’s a new favorite sport in town, and it’s taking over courts across the country. The pickleball frenzy is here!

Somewhere between tennis, badminton and ping-pong lies pickleball, and the Sports and Fitness Industry Association says it’s the fastest-growing sport in the United States.

If you have never played pickleball, you’re more than likely wondering—much like myself—what exactly it is, and why this peculiar-named sport has become so popular.

Played on a small court with a paddle and lightweight plastic ball, it’s easy to learn, surprisingly competitive and a blast to play— whether you’re 18 or 80. Often considered as the “sweet spot” between other popular racquet sports, pickleball provides a great workout without being overly strenuous. The sport’s smaller court size, slower pace and simple rules make it easier to learn and play, attracting a broad range of ages and skill levels.

Pickleball was invented on a warm summer afternoon in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Congressman Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, as a way to entertain their families.

Combining elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis, the families played on an old badminton court using ping-pong paddles and a wiffle ball, lowering the badminton net as a way to make the game more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. By the end of the summer, the families had established their own set of rules for the game, many of which remain fundamental in pickleball today.

With a few intriguing theories on how the game earned its funny name, the name is often attributed to Joel Pritchard’s wife, Joan, who referenced the “pickle boat” in crew races. Other theories suggest it was named after their family dog, Pickles, who would always chase after the ball.

From its humble origins as a backyard game played between families, pickleball has evolved to become a globally recognized sport, with participation in the US growing by nearly 20 million players in 2024.

The sport’s rapid increase in popularity has resulted in a significant shortage of courts, prompting a surge in demand for both public and private facilities. This shortage is leading to longer wait times for players and causing communities to rethink how they use existing recreational spaces.

With rising demands for more court space in cities across the country—including Pensacola—it’s no question that pickleball is here to stay.

With their eye on the ball, a group of businessmen combined forces to develop an innovative solution to meet the growing demand for pickleball space here in Pensacola, and it’s called Portside Pickle.

We had the opportunity to meet with Wilbur Matthews, Head Pickler in Charge, and Kelli Reeves, VP of Operations, to tour the new state-of-the-art pickleball facility and learn more about the project as phase one nears completion.

Matthews is one of three business partners spearheading the project, along with local attorney Scott Remington and project developer Robert Fabbro.

Matthews, who is a longtime friend of Remington, recently relocated to Pensacola from San Antonio, Texas, after retiring from a long career in global investments. As a passionate pickleballer himself, Matthews was immediately on board when he learned about the opportunity from Remington.

“People are lining up at mayor’s offices across the country requesting more dedicated pickleball courts to be built. The closest dedicated pickleball complex is in Daphne, Ala. There aren’t nearly enough quality courts within 50 miles of Pensacola,” Matthews explained. “There are only 18 dedicated pickleball courts in the area, and four additional courts have only just recently opened in Gulf Breeze. Most of today’s courts are multi-use gymnasiums or tennis courts that have been repurposed, many with no restrooms or amenities.”

The property where Portside Pickle is located was once a large, vacant warehouse that was originally built to hold bulk materials being transferred in and out of the Port of Pensacola. Prior to finalizing the lease agreement for the new facility with the City of Pensacola, the underutilized warehouse was being used to store three Mardi Gras floats and had not had a long-term tenant since 1979.

The team worked with experts at top pickleball facility, design and operations firm Johns Design & Consulting, which was co-founded by pickleball legends Ben and John Collins.

Portside Pickle is situated next to the new American Magic headquarters along Commendencia Slip at the Port of Pensacola. Once complete, it will be one of the largest pickleball facilities in the Southeast, and indisputably, one of the coolest pickleball venues along the Gulf Coast.

“When it’s all said and done, Portside Pickle will be nationally recognized as one of the top 10 pickleball facilities in the country,” Matthews said.

Developers broke ground on the multi-phase project in May 2024. Today, after 14 months of construction, the first phase of the project is now complete and is expected to open to the public in late summer.

When Portside Pickle officially opens for play, guests will have access to the outdoor portion of the facility, which includes three tournament-size pickleball courts, with five more currently in the works, which are also set to open soon.

Phase one also includes a waterfront bar and entertainment area with giant lawn games, a concessions area with space for two food trucks and a temporary pro shop, which will eventually have its own space inside the completed warehouse.

The entire facility boasts a nautical vibe, from the color scheme and decor to the re-purposed shipping containers that house the outdoor bar and temporary pro shop.

The team has recruited Romeo Amodo as Director of Fire & Ice to spearhead the hospitaility program for the new facility. Amodo has an extensive background in the food and beverage industry, serving as the manager for some of the area’s top dining establishments.

Amodo and his team are working to develop the menu for the bars, which will eventually offer a variety of craft cocktails and signature drinks, assorted beers, wines, sodas and more. For now, the outdoor bar will serve a variety of ready-to-drink cocktails, beers, wines and seltzers until the full menu is released.

In addition to the bar and large waterfront entertaining area, the facility also boasts a massive 240-seat bar that spans the entire perimeter of the three completed outdoor courts.

“We have the longest bar top in all of Florida,” Reeves said. “We also have plenty of entertaining space along the water for those who want to sit down and hang out while they enjoy a drink or a bite to eat.”

Phase one also includes Portside Pickle’s temporary pro shop. Also housed in a bright blue shipping container near the entrance of the facility, the pro shop’s walls are lined with a curated assortment of top-notch pickleball equipment, accessories, apparel and branded Portside Pickle merchandise.

Reeves explained that she and the team carefully selected and tested every brand and product sold in the pro shop, which boasts 15 different brands of pickleball paddles by some of the top manufacturers in the industry, including Selkirk, ProXR, Six Zero, Paddletek, Bread & Butter, Pickleball Apes and more.

With phase one now complete, the Portside Pickle team is working diligently to prepare the outdoor portion of the facility for opening day.

The next phase of construction includes revamping the interior of the warehouse, which is planned to feature 10 tournament-size pickleball courts and two regulation-size padel courts.

“Padel is another type of racket sport that’s very popular in Europe and Latin America,” Matthews explained. “It’s highly social and combines elements of tennis and squash. Padel played on an enclosed court with walls that players can utilize to their advantage. It’s rising in popularity in the U.S., so we wanted to incorporate a couple padel courts as well.”

In addition to the pickleball and padel courts, the indoor portion will include a full bar, seating areas and other amenities like baseball and golf simulators. The revamped 45,000-square-foot warehouse building will also serve as the pro shop’s new permanent home, with 2,000 square feet of dedicated floor space.

“This space has so much potential. We will have the ability to host leagues, tournaments, clinics and lessons by certified coaches,” Reeves said.

Portside Pickle will offer memberships along with hourly court rentals. While specific rates have not been finalized, Matthews explained that they will more than likely offer different levels of membership, with “drop-in” play for visitors and travelers and “open” play for members to ensure there’s always a game available.

Individuals will be able to reserve courts online or by using their mobile app. “The app will also allow guests to place an order for food or drinks from the bar to have delivered to them court-side,” Matthews explained.

Whether you’re an avid pickler or simply want to come and enjoy a few drinks on the waterfront with friends, everyone is welcome at Portside Pickle.

“Membership or entry fees won’t be required for those wanting to come and watch or grab a drink at the bar. This is a space for everyone,” Matthews said.

While an exact opening date has yet to be announced, the first phase of Portside Pickle is planned to open to the public by the end of summer.

Although subject to change, the hours of operation for Portside Pickle will be 7 am to 10 pm Monday through Thursday, and 1 am to 11 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For now, you can follow Portside Pickle on Facebook or Instagram @portsidepickle for updates and sneak peeks of the new facility leading up to opening day.

Stay tuned for complete details on court rentals and membership rates, which will be posted to the Portside Pickle website at portsidepickle.com.