Construction progresses on Bristol Sportsplex pickleball court
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) – Bristol Sportsplex broke ground on what will soon become a brand-new outdoor Pickleball court. A few months after the groundbreaking, the complex is making steady progress.
“We are fully under construction,” said Bristol Sportsplex General Manager Tiffany Scardo. “We are working to flatten the ground to be able to clear that to make way for the actual court structures themselves.”
Construction is in full swing as work on the field house continues. The new courts will offer more space for professionals and beginners.
Although the courts are months away from completion, the buzz has attracted the interest of those around the community.
“We’re doing more tours every day talking about the game of pickleball and ways that people can get active,” Scardo said.
The Sportsplex already has plans for a professional tournament to take place on their courts. The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) has a tournament scheduled on the new courts in August.
Scardo said the tournament has positive implications for the city.
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“Our goal with getting PPA to come here was the same as NASCAR bringing its races to the Bristol Motor Speedway, to Rhythm and Roots downtown, to the Hard Rock Casino,” Scardo said. “Bringing PPA means that we bring people and more people that we bring in, then that is better for the community, and that’s what we’re really focused on.”
Bringing PPA to the city is also part of the reason the Sportsplex considers itself the ‘Home of Pickleball’.
“Labeling ourselves the Home of Pickleball men’s that we have anything a pickleball player could need,” Scardo said. “We have private lessons, we have clinics, we have social leagues, we have competitive leagues.”
Players Mikala Styles and Justin Miller visited the Sportsplex for the first time in order to participate in one of the Sportsplex’s monthly tournaments. Miller said he is looking forward to seeing the final product.
“As nice as it is inside, I’ll be really anxious to see the outside,” Miller said.
For Styles, the growth of the facility is only the beginning of the Sportsplex’s popularity.
“I think it’s a great facility,” Styles said. “As it grows, I think and as the sports is growing I think more and more people will come.”
The Sportsplex is also planning to add a new restaurant to its facility. The Patio, a family-friendly bar and dining space, is scheduled to open in March. The courts are expected to be complete by May. Information about the Sportsplex’s newest additions can be found on their website.
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