In a nutshell
During a presentation at the Feb. 18 Southlake City Council meeting, pickleball manager Eric Clay provided a one-year review of the complex's numbers.
The city of Southlake had nearly 3,800 memberships sold in the first year, and 225 were nonresident members who paid $40 a month, Clay said. The city added $10 day passes in October due to demand, and more than 200 people paid for that through Feb. 18, he said.
The facility, which opened to the public Feb. 21, 2024, will now contract instructors who will offer private lessons, semiprivate lessons and specialty clinics. Group and private rental will be improved, and there will be improved scheduling flexibility for the $4.5 million facility.
Put in perspective
There were 27,436 individual check-ins in the first year, which included more than 2,600 guest passes handed out in the first six months to members, Clay said.
He added there were 4,737 total court reservations, with a majority of those reservations for two hours, accounting for 60% of reserved court time. Private and group rentals had a two-hour minimum, according to the presentation.
The total revenue from memberships, court reservations, pro shop and lessons was $186,294 through the first year.
What happened
In May, Clay said the court adjusted from opening at 8 a.m. to opening at 7 a.m., which led to increased numbers through November.
He added the closing time moved from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. due court demand.
“We are able to shift hours a little more efficiently and a little more effectively so [people] can enjoy pickleball when it fits their needs and not worry about the weather so much,” Clay said.
Council member Randy Williamson noted that the courts are empty during mid-day in the summers and suggested opening up the court for students age 22 and younger who can’t afford the monthly membership.
“It would put the course to use, and it would get more interest in pickleball,” he said.
Quote of note
“The pickleball complex has been a huge success even going back to the construction project and process, it was smooth; that success carried forward into operations,” Southlake Mayor Shawn McCaskill said. “It’s really exciting to see it used so much and so well. Everyone seems to be enjoying it.”
