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A new home has been found for an indoor pickleball group that lost its space as a result of Brandt’s purchase of much of the REAL District.
Queen City Pickleball Hub has finalized the purchase of a building at 1333 Park Street, and with the deal expected to close in around two weeks, its owner hopes to have the courts set up by the fall.
Read more:
- REAL deal may put Regina pickleballers in a real pickle
- Brandt Group hopes new facility will put fears about Agribition’s future in Regina to rest
- Indoor pickleball facilities coming to Saskatoon and Regina through new partnership
“I think this will satisfy the current need,” Philip Greenwood said in an interview about the new building, though he noted it will only have around half the space of the previous facility.
“It may be a little bit of a struggle for future need, but I have ideas on how to deal with that as well.”
Since 2021, the facility had operated inside the Canada Centre, also known as the Avana Centre, at the REAL District. But its lease was not renewed at the end of May, prompting the search for a new space.
On Friday, Brandt owner Shaun Semple explained plans for Queen City Distillers have been expanded, with the distillery portion now planned for the Canada Centre. It will also house office space for Brandt Sports and Entertainment.
Greenwood said while pickleball players are pleased about the new space, there are still some hard feelings about having to leave the REAL District.
“That whole subject was a touchy subject for a lot of people,” he said, “but you know what, that’s really out of my control. So whatever they did, they did, and we just have to do our own thing going forward.”
He said the new building meets the requirements for fitting in courts, as well as nearby parking; the zoning is compliant; and the timing works for getting things set up.
“There’s outdoor programs throughout the city at different locations, and of course, when the summer ends, the courts are shut down, winterized, and that’s our plan: to be open at that point, so that we have a place to play through the winter months,” he explained.
“Owning the property, that allows us to be in control of our own destiny, that we don’t have to shut down for Agribition or any other interruptions, and we can mold it and make it exactly how we want it to be.”
