New Pickleball Club at Southeast Event Centre
Pickleball continues to surge in popularity across North America, and now adults in Southeastern Manitoba have a new place to play, learn and connect. The Southeast Event Centre has launched The Court House Pickleball Club, a new program designed to bring people together through one of the fastest-growing sports in the region. The club offers weekly drop-in play, league opportunities and a welcoming environment for players of all experience levels – especially beginners.
“Our mission at the Southeast Event Centre is to promote community through high-quality recreational activities,” says Gabriel Brandt, director of sports programming. “Pickleball is accessible, competitive and social – everything you need to make this the highlight of your week.” While competitive players will find plenty to enjoy, organizers say the club is intentionally designed to be approachable for people who may have only recently heard about the sport. “If someone has never played before, that’s perfectly fine,” Brandt says. “There will be lots of beginners joining. If you’re curious about the sport or need help learning the rules, this is a great place to start.” A welcoming environment for new players Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong and is known for being easy to learn while still offering a fun challenge.
The Court House Pickleball Club aims to build on the growing local pickleball community by creating a space where anyone can get involved. “The club is open to any age,” Brandt says. “Anyone who wants to stay active, meet people and try something new is welcome. Sometimes people may think that pickleball is a seniors’ sport, but the sport has seen growth at all age levels, so if you’re reading this, you should join.” Players can register for the spring/summer membership, which runs from March 1 to August 31 and costs $90 per person. Membership includes up to 10 hours per week of drop-in play, early access to tournaments, members-only gym availability alerts and exclusive opportunities to participate in league play. Those who currently hold a Southeast Event Centre walking track membership can also receive 50 percent off the club membership fee.
League play adds friendly competition. For players interested in more structured competition, the club is launching a spring league and costs an additional $65 per person. Running from March 11 to April 29, the spring league features a six-week regular season followed by two weeks of playoffs, with champions crowned in two divisions. Games take place Wednesday evenings from 8:15 pm to 10:15 pm at the Southeast Event Centre.
To ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone, the league is divided into two skill groups: beginner and intermediate players, and a more advanced division. “We want people to feel comfortable joining, no matter where they’re at,” Brandt says. “The goal is friendly competition, camaraderie and giving people something fun to look forward to each week.” While registration for memberships is on-going, the deadline to register for the league is Sunday, March 8th.
Pickleball at SEC Building community through sport as a new hub for recreation and events in the region, the Southeast Event Centre continues to expand programming that brings people together. The launch of The Court House Pickleball Club is part of that effort, providing another way for adults to stay active while building connections within the community. Space in the club and league is limited, and organizers expect strong interest as pickleball’s popularity continues to grow.