Nike Has a New Neighbor

As the name on the building implies, pickleball is BIG in the Portland area. Jumbo’s Pickleball is satisfying a huge appetite for this ever-evolving sport in Beaverton, Oregon, near the west side of Portland. If the name Beaverton sounds familiar, well, it should. It’s home base for a little ol’ sports company named Nike.

Jumbo’s Pickleball opened this year on Feb. 23 and is the first indoor, nine-court facility exclusively dedicated to pickleball. It was named after the father of one of the facility’s owners. Jumbo Fernando came to the United States from Sri Lanka in 1969 and played collegiate tennis for the Oregon Ducks.

“We offered free play for our opening weekend celebration, and needless to say, it was well-received,” said Nichole Klaes, director of operations for Jumbo’s Pickleball. “We loved meeting the community and seeing so many people compete and have a good time. I think we hosted close to 1,000 guests over the three-day period.”

Jumbo’s Pickleball offers nine high-cushioned courts engineered for the truest bounce. The courts are actually the same kind used by the APP Tour, and the facility also features professional-grade indirect lighting for optimal viewing and playing. And, to make sure the pickleballers are comfortable year-round, the gym is climate controlled. The building remains warm and dry when Oregon’s weather calls for it, and cool and shaded from the sun in the summer months.

Additional amenities include two lounge areas, pumping music, a snack bar offering food and beverages (including wine and beer), a pro shop with merchandise, and a demo court to test the latest equipment. Members also have access to an upstairs working space to take calls or answer emails, all within a bird’s-eye view of the courts.

The buzz around Jumbo’s Pickleball has been non-stop since it opened. “The pickleball community has been very enthusiastic and supportive. We really stepped into a growing community of people who love the sport and what it represents,” added Klaes. “We feel very fortunate and very welcomed by everyone in this area.”

Jumbo’s offers memberships for those who play the sport a lot, and also happily welcomes non-members interested in playing just a few games at a time. Leagues will be level based, for all levels. Beginners will embrace the social aspect of pickleball while working on their games, and avid picklers can grab their buddies for highly competitive action.

“The main focus and principal driver for the space was to make it a great experience for everyone in the community. This includes the highest-quality court surfaces, lighting and amenities, and the volume of daily programming and organized play really provides what players want,” said Klaes.

No doubt Jumbo’s Pickleball provides everything for the pickleball enthusiast, and more big things are on the horizon in Beaverton—with or without that recognizable swoosh.  •