PickleballMEXICO
By Javier Regalado
PRESIDENT , LPPM
THE POPCORN MEXICAN EFFECT
Torreón Indoor Club
I
am happy to report that pickleball growth is beginning to pick up throughout Mexico .
In different parts of the country , new investment and more interest in the sport is flourishing . I call it the “ popcorn effect ,” that is , places to play are popping up just about everywhere .
There are already many dedicated courts to play in traditional tourist destinations , led by Los Cabos where we have an unofficial inventory of around 200 courts .
Puerto Vallarta is just behind , with hotels and private courts opening almost every month .
The LPPM is planning to have great tournaments in the second semester of this year in these two cities . The tournament in Los Cabos will be held in the same amazing and incredible venue that the tennis ATP Los Cabos Open is held every August . The LPPM has signed an agreement to hold a pickleball tournament there in October for the next 10 years .
Other resort destinations with courts include Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo ,
Puerto Escondido / Huatulco , Riviera Maya , North and Middle Baja Peninsula , Ajijic and San Miguel de Allende .
But what is incredible is how the sport is now beginning to spread to the center of the country , as well as big central cities .
Hermosillo is a leading city with new courts , with Central Pickleball Club being one of the first among six different clubs — all with nightly leagues and tournaments .
Worth mentioning are two stateof-the-art venues being built in San Carlos , Sonora , and Torreón , Coahuila .
The San Carlos venue will be ready by the end of the summer and will have 14 dedicated courts including two championship stadiums , food and drink concessions and amazing social areas .
Top Spin , Valle de Bravo
The Torreón venue is being built by entrepreneur Eduardo Gutierrez and will have nine dedicated indoor courts .
Top Spin Padel and Pickleball Club will open its doors next in July in the beautiful lake town of Valle de Bravo , located an hour and 15 minutes southwest of Mexico City . It also promises to be a fun and great competitive venue .
Mérida has recently inaugurated a new six-court club , with amazing lighting for night play to get around the heat . Mérida is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico .
These four venues will also host an LPPM tournament later this year . But there is also Monterrey , Leon , Guadalajara , Aguascalientes , San Luis Potosí , Oaxaca , Puebla , Veracruz , Pachuca , Zacatecas , Morelia … all with entrepreneurs investing their own money .
In Mexico City the LPPM is working with the local governments to implement public courts . Although many private clubs are beginning to incorporate courts , it is imperative that we start opening and promoting public areas .