Palmera Pickleball Venue Preview: What to Expect

We’re building something special in Nicaragua. A pro-grade pickleball facility, built with JDC, featuring eight indoor Ben Johns Signature courts. We're talking pro lighting, ideal spacing, and the best surfacing available. This facility sets the bar for pickleball. It's where palm trees grow indoors, competition is real, and the entire experience is built around luxury and performance.

Let's take a closer look.

This is the view when you first walk into the building. The courts line the center walkway. In the back right is the championship court, and on the left is a grandstand court with indoor plants next to it. We'll talk about those more in a bit.

This is the championship court. Fully surrounded by seats, broadcast ready, and front and center for the biggest matches. On the deck, we've got lounges where VIPs can catch the game in comfort. There's also a balcony accessible from the second level where the commentators and VIPs can watch.

This is the view of Championship Court from the balcony. Perfect view for commentators, media, and VIPs.

Yes, those are real palm trees. Indoors. We are going to bring a piece of the Nicaraguan jungle indoors to brighten the vibe, and make something totally unique. Our engineers are working on the logistics of this, including making sure that the sun doesn't touch any part of the courts. 

Here's a short video from our engineers showing a sun model and where sunlight enters through the skylight. We're making sure the sun doesn't mess with players on the court.

This shot gets you on court level, showing the way the greenery and game blend together. One thing we don't like about a lot of indoor facilities is how sterile they can feel. Bringing in some plants really lightens the mood and adds a cool aesthetic.

This facility isn’t just about pickleball. Upstairs, you’ll find our coworking area and podcast studio. This soundproof area will be a pure productivity zone. Because why not get your work done while keeping your eye on the courts?

On top of what we see in these pictures, the facility will include a café and a gym loaded with recovery and therapy services for athletes (think pro-level recovery tools like the ones NBA players use).

And that’s just what’s happening indoors.

Outside, we’re adding five more Ben Johns Signature pickleball courts (one is a grandstand court), three full-size padel courts, and a kids’ playground. This entire layout will be carefully terraced into a beautiful hillside to create a seamless flow between sport and scenery

We're aiming to start building The Venue soon, so stay tuned for more updates.

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