There is little doubt that the game of pickleball has seen an increase in popularity recently. From its beginning back in 1965 in Bainbridge, Washington, the game has come a l ong way. While it is hard to find exact numbers as to how much it has grown over the past few years, Pickleball Alberta indicates that it's the fastest growing sport in Canada and America (per the Pickleball Alberta website).

Jorge Quintero and Vinh Ngo recognized the growth in the sport and the need for more indoor space to play the game. Both transitioned from other racquet sports, Quintero from squash and Ngo from table tennis, where booking a court or having your own table was the norm. When they started to play pickleball, they found that with only drop-in play available, they spent as much time on the sidelines waiting for their turn as on the court. They felt the need for a dedicated pickleball space where people could book court times throughout the day and space wasn't shared with other sports. They decided to open a dedicated pickleball facility and began to search for a suitable location in West Edmonton, knowing that they wanted to be close to the Anthony Henday to make travel easy for people in Edmonton, St. Albert, Stony Plain and Spruce Grove. While they didn't find a location in West Edmonton that met their needs, they did find one in Campbell Business Park in St. Albert.

The Paddle Room opened in November 2018 and has two full-sized pickleball courts and one dinking court - a small practice court with a net and 7' on either side. The first of its kind in Canada, The Paddle Room uses the same court surface as found on outdoor courts and offers members access to pickleball courts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Members can book court times online up to seven days in advance. Bookings by members makes up 50% of The Paddle Room's bookings with drop-in and private bookings compromising the remaining 50%. People travel from as far away as Calgary on a weekly basis to use the facility.

With a junior league and monthly tournaments for all skill levels, Jorge and Vinh are hoping to help the sport of pickleball continue to grow and help others develop the skills they need to take their game to the next level. They also host private bookings including corporate events, birthdays, Christmas parties and other functions to give people who have never tried the sport an opportunity to experience it.

If you are looking for a sport that is easy to learn and can be played by all ages and fitness levels, then give pickleball a try.

Staff Hours:

Monday through Friday
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.