REGIONAL matters
IF YOU BUILD IT , THEY WILL COME TO OPELIKA
By Alice Tym
Opelika , Alabama , hosted 734 players at the Atlantic South Diamond Regional Championships in its facility that offers 24 covered courts . Texas Judge Nate McDonald said , “ There is certainly no rural complex like this in America and I seriously doubt that there is any suburban or urban pickleball complex that measures up to this well-planned , well-built , and well-run facility in America .”
Tournament Director Bill Hess should write a manual on how to run a player-friendly pickleball event . He started with enough courts so there were minimal wait times between matches and the cover eliminated the weather factor despite 100-degree temperatures . Lots of water , fans , and a misting tent helped .
Draws were posted at the site and online , and players were notified by text as well as warned by a clear public address system . Jim Young , president of the Opelika Pickleball Club , made sure there were plenty of volunteers and oversaw operations . It was a great team event for the city of Opelika , but then Opelika has been operating as a team for some time .
In 2007 , a racquetball-playing dentist named Bob Huskey googled pickleball . In 2008 , he built the first permanent pickleball court in the state of Alabama . Sam Bailey , the Director of Parks and Rec , brought the Alabama Senior Olympics to Opelika in 2012 . A very progressive mayor , Gary Fuller , got on board and a pickleball plan was hatched to build 12 individually fenced , covered courts . On July 12 , 2019 , the covered , lighted facility opened for 24 / 7 use , free to the public .
Through economic impact , the courts have been paid for in less than three years . Advertising banners have been purchased by merchants for up to $ 3,000 a year . The economic impact of the tournaments and the advertising banners was so great that in December 2021 , the Opelika Pickleball Club presented a check to the city of Opelika for $ 60,000 .
Pickleball was such a success and had such a positive economic impact on the city that leaders decided to build a second facility next door .
Point Broadband , a local internet service provider , sponsored the new courts to the tune of $ 100,000 . Auburn-Opelika Tourism estimates the total economic impact of the Atlantic South Diamond Regionals to be $ 420,000 . Huskey , the Alabama South district ambassador , said , “ Pickleball is exploding , and these courts have been a great investment by the city .”
Play at this year ’ s regionals reflected the quality of the facility . Tuesday through Thursday was for 60 + players and the younger players began on Friday . Hess also made it possible for the 80 + divisions to qualify for the Diamond Series
Age / Skill Division gold medalists ( l to r ): Carol Hess , 80 +; Colin Garrett , 15 ; Alia Brown , 16 ; Savannah Stewart , 14 ; Colt Miller , 14 ; and Bill Hess , 80 +. PHOTO BY ALICE TYM