Ballers — an outdoor pickleball and padel complex with a bar and café — is coming to the Seaport this summer
Why Boston? 'It's an iconic sports city,' says founder and CEO David Gutstadt. Can't argue with that. The idea is to connect people through sports and social experiences via the fast-growing racquet sports industry, he says. 'We want to bring people together around the love of sports in an urban setting.'
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With top-of-the-line courts and upscale amenities, Ballers is looking to create a private club experience in the city, but with no membership required. (Well, unless you want one; two-tiered monthly memberships will be offered that include free open play, advanced booking ability, and discounts on court time, lessons, food and beverage, and retail merch.)
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The Boston venue will offer three padel courts — the first ones in Boston — designed for year-round play, and five pickleball courts. (The pickleball courts will transform into an ice rink with a synthetic surface in winter.) The pickleball- or padel- curious are welcome; Ballers will offer lessons for both sports, along with open play, meaning you can join a group on a court.
Originating in Mexico, padel is played on a court enclosed by glass walls. Typically played in doubles, using a racquet and a tennis ball, it's is a fast-paced game. 'Padel is harder to master than pickleball,' says Gutstadt, a former college tennis player who is now 'obsessed' with padel.
Padel is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. According to the International Padel Federation, padel is now played by around 25 million people across the globe, and is hugely popular in Mexico, Argentina, and Spain. FIP estimates there are courts in more than 90 countries.
And the pickleball boom hasn't started to sour. 'Young people are discovering the sport. Kids are starting to play in schools — you've got a brand-new wave of people coming into the sport,' Gutstadt says.
According to the
Post-play eating and drinking will be part of the scene, of course. When Ballers opens in July, beverages will be available, including beer, wine, and hard seltzers. About a month later, they'll open an outdoor café (under a shaded pergola) in partnership with James Beard Award semi-finalist chef Mitch Prensky of Supper Philly, L'Ecole, and Lutece. What will they serve? 'Something local,' Gutstadt says.
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The cost to play each sport will range from $15 to $30 per hour. 45 Pier 4 Blvd., Boston;
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Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
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We were asking, how do we build a space that can welcome people from around the country to steal our model? To me, that's the most effective way of scaling. You are also breaking a streak in Dallas with this award. It will be the first Beard Award the city has won in 31 years, since Dean Fearing won the last one. How do you feel about that? You're joking. Nope, totally serious. I don't know. The word I keep defaulting to is surreal. I feel not worthy. Overwhelmed. I thank the chefs and restaurants that graciously opened their doors to us on a Sunday night, the chefs who came in with their full staffs when their restaurants were closed to work alongside eight young men who were formerly incarcerated to execute a dinner that showed the city what our kids are capable of when allowed to walk in their greatness. I think those chefs own this award. I think over 1,300 children own this award. While I know I'm biased, I don't know that we could have launched this anywhere other than Dallas. The way the city embraced Cafe Momentum is special, so I want to congratulate Dallas as a community. The first award we get in 31 years is one we can own as a city. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Sign up for our newsletter.
