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A $28 million palace in the sky, pickleball court included

A $28 million palace in the sky, pickleball court included

PLUS: Seattle’s post-tournament pickleball funeral, 16-year-old gold metalist, What's one Pickleball tip you wish you'd learned sooner?

Welcome back, Kitcheners.

Read time: 4 min

Breaking news - the professional player known as "Slamma Jamma" won't be bringing the noise on the pickleball courts anytime soon.

After a heated match, he spiked his paddle a little too hard, leaving holes in the court surface. It turns out paddle punctures don't pair well with pickleball. 🤭

While he sits out for unsportsmanlike conduct, let's remember: keeping your cool is key, even when the games get hot.

TODAY’S MENU

Daily Scoop: A $28 million palace in the sky, pickleball court included
News Stash: Running stores turn to pickleball for profits. Seattle’s post-tournament pickleball funeral. Pickleball founder’s son, disappointed.
Recipe of the Week: Greek Deli Kabobs
Sizzling Skills: 16-year-old gold metalist. The secret to a successful overhead shot.
Kitchen Talk: What's one Pickleball tip you wish you'd learned sooner? Tennis shoes vs. Pickleball shoes, what’s the difference?

DAILY SCOOP

A Pickleball Palace in the Sky 🏰

A $28 million NYC apartment comes with its own private pickleball court. Here’s a peek inside the luxe living.

The Scoop…

Location: Midtown Manhattan, in the Baccarat Hotel & Residences. Asking $28M.
Size: 4,200 sq ft duplex with 5 beds, 7 baths. Wraparound terrace is 3,500 sq ft.
Amenities: Private pickleball court on the terrace. Also has wet bars, wine fridges, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Access to 5-star hotel amenities like a pool, spa, gym, restaurant.
Architect: Designed by prestigious firm SOM with a crystal-inspired facade. Tower is 50 stories tall.
Replaced: A former New York Public Library building. The site now caters to the ultra wealthy.

The Intrigue…

The private pickleball court reflects the sport's incredible rise from obscurity to mainstream popularity.
Pickleball now has nearly 5 million regular players in the US. It's one of the fastest growing sports.
For affluent real estate buyers, private pickleball courts could be the new home tennis court. A flashy amenity that caters to recreational trends.
But a private court in the sky also shows pickleball being co-opted by the ultrarich. A game that started as accessible is now a luxury symbol.

The Bottom Line…

Pickleball's infiltration into high-end real estate signifies its broad appeal and business potential. The sport has carved out a permanent place in American recreation.

For developers, pickleball courts and branding carry cachet and lifestyle marketing. For the wealthy, it's the latest must-have amenity and status marker.

Watch the full tour 👇🏾

NEWS STASH

Running stores sprint into booming pickleball market

As pickleball explodes in popularity, specialty running retailers are mindfully expanding into the sport. Store owners like Jeff Harris of Run With It have converted parts of their stores to pickleball gear and even built courts, driving huge traffic increases from pickleball players and curious runners. Harris stated, "All of a sudden, all this new clientele started coming through our door. It took on a life of its own." Major athletic brands are now making pickleball shoes, allowing stores to leverage their footwear expertise. While some remain wary of diving headfirst into pickleball, careful training on gear and representing the category well are allowing stores like Massachusetts' Whirlaway Sports to find major success and earn more. Owner Dave Kazanjian said, "You really have to have the knowledge." With limited specialty pickleball retailers, running stores are becoming a prime brick-and-mortar destination for players. Read more here —>

Makeshift pickleball courts get 'funeral' after tournament

After the 2023 Seattle Open pickleball tournament, fans staged a New Orleans-style "funeral" to protest the conversion of temporary courts back to tennis. The demonstrators are calling for the city to build 24 new dedicated pickleball courts by 2024, starting a petition stating, "Seattle Parks has neglected the growth of pickleball, favoring tennis over pickleball." Though Seattle has 3 permanent courts, the group argues "It’s like this all over the city every day. And people are fed up." The protest followed last-minute drama, as unsuitable designated courts forced the Professional Pickleball Association to quickly convert tennis courts for the event. With pickleball deemed the fastest-growing US sport, fans want more permanent access rather than temporary solutions. Read more here —>

Pickleball founder's son decries pickleball going pro and commercial

Frank Pritchard laments how pickleball, invented by his father Joel in 1965 using household items as a casual "bit of fun," has transformed into an elite, hyper-commercialized sport focused on profits and "killer instinct." Pritchard preferred when it was "played for fun" without "discord." Pickleball now has rival pro leagues, celebrity investors, and millions in prize money. Fellow player Steve Paranto decries the "gold rush mentality," saying "once a game becomes professional, the sportsmanship seen at an amateur level goes away." Paranto notes how paddles can now cost $450, betting deals are made, and some may be "susceptible to bribes." However, some enthusiasts, like 23-year-old Ben Lomas, believe professionalization can help grow the sport, arguing, "If other sports can have professional leagues, why not pickleball?" As pickleball explodes into an industry worth hundreds of millions, its founder's humble vision of a casual community game appears lost. Pritchard feels his father "would be disappointed" that pickleball became this "huge commercial venture." Read more here —>

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Greek Deli Kabobs

Image courtesy of Taste of Home

Recipe:

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. + marinating

The Ingredients

1 pound part-skim mozzarella cheese, cut into 48 cubes
24 fresh broccoli florets (about 10 ounces)
1/2 cup Greek vinaigrette
24 slices hard salami
2 jars (7-1/2 ounces each) roasted sweet red peppers, drained and cut into 24 strips

Instructions

In a shallow dish, combine cheese, broccoli and vinaigrette. Turn to coat; cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
Drain cheese and broccoli, reserving vinaigrette. On 24 appetizer skewers, alternately thread cheese, salami, broccoli and peppers. Brush with reserved vinaigrette.

The Review

❝

Quick, easy and really good.

Thanks to Taste of Home for the recipe!