As reported by Mainebiz, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport, and it’s not just for seniors. Maine has fully embraced the pickleball trend. In Westbrook, new indoor courts are set to open at the site of the former Shaw’s supermarket, which closed in 2022. The Picklr franchise, originating in Utah, is expanding to Maine.
With a massive 64,000 square feet and 19 courts, the new facility in Westbrook is a major addition. Jeff Maguire, the owner of the Picklr in Maine, expressed his excitement about the project in an interview with Mainebiz.
“Being able to bring pickleball to the Greater Portland area is very exciting. Growing up in New England and loving the area, it is amazing to get the opportunity to bring the life-changing sport of pickleball to the state of Maine. Whether you are just learning the sport, enjoy playing for the health and the social aspect, or have aspirations to pursue playing in the professional leagues, the Picklr is for you.”
Pickleball Is Not an Old-Person Sport
I was surprised to learn that pickleball was created in 1965 as a backyard game for kids in Washington state. It uses wiffle balls about the size of a baseball and combines elements from tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. While it may have originally been popular with older generations, it has since gained widespread appeal across all age groups!
The Picklr was started by Jorge Barragan who has been playing since 2016. His story on The Picklr website, says he started because he saw so many people waiting for court time…
“One winter, we went to a rec center, and I saw two teenagers playing pickleball with 50 people waiting to get on the court. My first thought was, “What cult did I join?” It was a weekday, but no one was at work or school. And the two teenagers were playing at a level I hadn’t seen yet. It was fast-paced and exciting. They were putting down overhead slams and shots I couldn’t believe. I realized then that the youth would eventually take over this sport.”
It’s an incredible story that has stretched from Utah to Maine. Get ready pickleball enthusiasts, courts with the surface by Just Courts, the official court layer for the Professional Pickleball Association is coming to Westbrook, Maine!
