Pickleball Heaven in Raleigh?

Pickleball, Tennis, Paddle Sports AND a Celebrity Chef...WHAT?

RalToday announced earlier this week a concept so unique that it is going to be the first of its kind...in the WORLD right here Raleigh, North Carolina!  Are you familiar with the Brier Creek area?  Just north of the RDU airport, Brier Creek, in many ways is the new center of the the Triangle.  Once a forgotten tract of land too close to the airport ... now a thriving area featuring Raleigh townhomes, single family homes, including million dollar homes, a wonderful golf course, office and shopping shopping and more shopping!  What is this unique idea?  What is it that will change the places you play? Swing Racquet + Paddle Club is coming to the area in 2024.  It will feature more courts than I can count on my fingers and toes!  To be forthcoming, it will have over 70 paddle, tennis and pickleball courts in addition to that restaurant I mentioned above.  A celebrity chef will be onsite and leading the way.  Great social space will be available as well.

Do NOT be intimidated.  They want you to come spend your time there even if you've never played a paddle sport of any kind.  The CEO was quoted by RALtoday, "We're setting out to grow the sports that we offer and to make it really inclusive," Swing founder, Rob Autry.

There will be a walking trail right smack dab through the center of this campus.  And how big is the campus?  Try 45 acres on for size!!  The entire complex is open to the public.  However in order to access the courts there will be a fee.  Another way to say, pay to play.  Triangle residents have understood this through the many tennis clubs and golf courses that dot the landscape of Wake County.  

While we will not have access to the new complex until 2024, the ground breaking moving of dirt will commence in 2023 and we can start to salivate over the THREE places to eat on campus.  Yes, three.  There will be a place that will be calling me to it, a coffee and smoothie bar.  Kima Runs on Dunkin but loves all coffee!  In addition a grill will be available and guests will be able to order food directly to the courts via the Swing app!  They will have an app...this place is going to be so cool.  One more place...the main restaurant anchored by a yet to be revealed celebrity chef will seat 200 and feature an indoor and outdoor bar!  The focus at the main restaurant will be dishes made for sharing and healthy!!

Get this:

• 4 Beach tennis courts
• 12 Ping pong tables (Forrest Gump?)
• 16 Paddle courts
• 24 Pickleball courts
• AND 29 Tennis courts (can you say, huge tournaments!?)

If you are from New England like me, you will recall growing up with bowling leagues for all ages etc...a social outlet.  The same will be offered at Swing.  Swing intends to hist international and national tournaments on certain Show Courts.  These are tech driven courts...this could be so cool!

Where might you find me and my buds occasionally?  The lounge...the Ping Pong lounge.  A place for after hours if you know what I mean.  The lounge will give a place for people to gather and will be open all day.

So, now that you, Raleigh homeowner, know what's coming, are you excited?  If you own a Raleigh home or have a Raleigh home for sale, you'll want to tell all your buyers about SWING!  As one of the coolest commercial real estate projects we have seen in a while in the Triangle, SWING will bring with it cottage businesses.  If you want to stay on top of what is happening in the world of commercial real estate hit us up at Kima Commercial.  We are happy to help with any of your real estate needs.  

One last thought.  Have you seen the craze of pickleball sweeping the nation?  In Florida they are building these courts everywhere.  Mostly outdoors.  Here we have them indoors and out.  As you travel further north more and more indoor courts are needed for obvious reasons.  Do not be fooled, pickleball is not for the elderly only.  It is not the replacement for shuffleboard that you may have heard about.  It attracts people of all ages and competitive levels.  

All pictures are courtesy of Raltoday.