Pickleball interest continues to grow and a company wants to build a Pickleball Kingdom location in Keller.

At the Keller City Council meeting Oct. 3, council approved in a 5-1 vote a Chapter 380 Economic Development Program agreement with Pickleball Kingdom-Keller, a company contracted to acquire and construct a sports facility at 957 Keller Parkway. The location is on 4.02 acres in the Bluebonnet Trails Addition.

Council members Shannon Dubberly, Tag Green, Sean Hicks and Ross McMullin along with Mayor Armin Mizani voted to approve the measure, while council member Jessica Juarez voted against the project. Council member Chris Whatley was absent. Chapter 380 projects allow cities to provide funding for economic development projects, for commercial and retail projects.

The background

Pickleball Kingdom officials first presented the proposed indoor recreational pickleball facility to council during an executive session Sept. 19, according to a council memo. The proposal includes a 44,000-square-foot facility with 17 professional courts, locker rooms, event space, a mezzanine lounge and a pro-shop to be built.


“The goal of Pickleball Kingdom is to be the go-to indoor destination for pickleball enthusiasts in Keller and the surrounding area,” Director of Economic Development Mary M. Culver told council Oct. 3. “The business aims to foster a sense of community among players of all skill levels and contribute to the growth and popularity of the sport in the region.”

The Keller Economic Development Board reviewed the proposal and recommended approval of the incentive at its Sept. 18 meeting with a vote of 7-0.

The details

Officials representing Pickleball Kingdom requested $187,600, but the city agreed to $103,000 to reach a 100% return on investment in year five, which council approved. The council memo stated all incentives are performance-based and only revenue generated by the business would be used to fulfill the incentive agreement.


Additionally, Culver stated the demand for pickleball facilities has been high, and the development of a private indoor facility will help reduce the demand for publicly funded amenities.

During the Oct. 3 meeting, Culver showed an artist rendering of the Pickleball Kingdom location, which will have a different address from the listed Keller Parkway address when it is replated.

What they're saying

McMullin asked Culver about a general timeline for the center’s operations. Culver said business officials hope to have construction started on the Pickleball Kingdom location by the beginning of 2024, with an approved building permit, and with build-out being targeted in less than a year after that.


“I think it will probably take a little bit more time,” Culver said. “But they’re ambitious and they’re hoping to get it done quickly.”

McMullin said it was an “exciting project” that will come to Keller, and he appreciated Culver working with the applicant to reduce the request for the incentive.

Juarez asked about other Pickleball Kingdom locations. The applicant has one location being constructed in Plano, Culver said, and there’s a franchise operating and “performing well” in Chandler, Arizona. Juarez expressed concern about this Keller franchise’s shot at being successful, saying she needed more information and wondered about how much revenue the Arizona franchise was making. Culver said she did not have that information. Juarez also asked about the land where the Keller location would be located, and Pickleball Kingdom has it under contract to purchase from an Oklahoma-based holding company, Culver said.