Thrive
Pickleball took over Pinellas in 2025
New facilities that opened include Dill Dinkers, St. Pete Athletic, Pickle & Pint and Dink House.
Pickleball has rapidly become one of the most popular sports in the country. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, the game has seen a participant increase of more than 310% over the past three years.
Here’s a roundup of the new pickleball facilities and courts that opened throughout Pinellas County this year.
Dill Dinkers
Couple Lisa and Kevin Goettel signed a franchising agreement with Dill Dinkers in 2024 to open 10 locations in the Pinellas County area. Their first, located in St. Petersburg, began to welcome players Dec. 14.
The 24,000 square-foot facility has 10 pickleball courts. Additionally, it has an event room and concession stand.
Dill Dinkers, in St. Petersburg, opened Dec. 14. Photo provided.
For Lisa, entering the industry spurred from a passion. She was in the process of retiring from her job and saw an opportunity to create a facility in the community.
“I loved going to play at Crescent Lake Park, but it was getting too crowded,” Goettel explained. “The heat, the winds – you never knew what the external weather was going to be like. I wanted to be able to provide something for people to come and play at all levels and get what I got out of it.”
St. Pete Athletic
St. Pete Athletic opened earlier this month at The Factory in the Warehouse Arts District. Currently, the 50,000-square-foot facility is home to eight indoor pickleball courts, but six more are scheduled to open in January.
However, the venture is far more than just a place to play pickleball. It has six table tennis and two indoor padel courts.
St. Pete Athletic opened earlier this month. Photo by Bill DeYoung.
Additionally, the facility features a restaurant, three bars and a members-only area with a fitness center, saunas and a locker room. It also has a co-working space with a podcast studio, conference room and a members-only lounge.
While there are certainly membership perks, a majority of the club is open to the public – including the pickleball courts, restaurant and bars.
Currently, membership is full. However, individuals can join a waitlist as the facility’s owners plan to expand capacity.
Pickle & Pint
Largo’s Pickle & Pint, which opened in May, is a facility that features 12 indoor pickleball courts. It additionally has a gaming area for cornhole and ping-pong (table tennis), a bar and kitchen.
Zachary Weir co-owns the facility with his wife and father-in-law, Roth Block.
“The people that come in are basically like our family too,” he explained. “We all treat each other with respect. It’s all for fun.”
Pickle & Pint has 12 indoor pickleball courts. Photo by Bill DeYoung.
Weir believes the pickleball boom is due to changing health trends. Particularly, an emerging focus on exercise.
“I just think it’s a better sport that’s out there for all ages,” he said. “The average age group is now like in the mid 30s. So, you’re seeing people from four year olds all the way up to 90 year olds. It’s a sport for everyone to take over.”
Weir added that the social component of the game could help it retain popularity.
“Pickleball is like the new business meeting place. Companies are stopping doing golf outings and doing corporate events at pickleball facilities because you can engage more. It’s good team building.”
Dink House
Brandon Anandan, a former professional tennis player, has taken a liking to pickleball. For the past few years, he has been playing and coaching the sport.
Anandan has also created his own facility.
Dink House has four indoor pickleball courts. Photo provided.
In January, he held a grand opening ceremony for Dink House – also in Largo. The 10,400 square-foot club, which has been welcoming guests since 2024, has four indoor courts. Additionally, it has a cold plunge, sauna and fitness equipment.
“I think that a big thing that helped was honestly the Covid-19 pandemic. People needed to get outside,” Anandan said. “It’s easy to get involved. You can be across a bunch of different skill levels and still play with each other. There’s never been a game or sport where you can play competitively with your grandparents and your friends.”
Pickleball in the parks
New pickleball courts have been added to parks around Pinellas County as well this year.
McKay Park, in Clearwater, reopened in February after months of major renovations. The updates included six new pickleball courts, a playground, outdoor exercise equipment and a resurfaced bocce ball court.
The City of Pinellas Park held a grand opening ceremony for Pinebrook Park’s four pickleball courts in May.
McKay Park, in Clearwater, reopened in February with six new pickleball courts. Photo provided.
