Northwest Arkansas Set to Become National Pickleball Hub with Big Dill Pickleball Club & Academy
Northwest Arkansas is set to become a pickleball hub on a national scale with the development of the Big Dill Pickleball Club & Academy in Springdale. Reginald Brasfield, founder and partner of the project, envisions a 12-acre complex that will revolutionize the sport.
The $40 to $50 million facility will feature a 70,000-square-foot indoor space with 23 courts, including a stadium court with 900 seats, as well as at least 30 outdoor courts. The complex will also include 2 acres of retail, social, and entertainment space, making it a one-of-a-kind destination for pickleball enthusiasts.
Brasfield plans to offer elite training for youth and adult competitors, with a focus on developing local talent and expanding the sport’s reach in the community. He believes that pickleball has the potential to become an Olympic sport and is already gaining popularity in colleges across the country.
The project is expected to attract 25,000 to 30,000 tourists annually and will eventually include multifamily housing to accommodate players and visitors. The indoor and outdoor facilities are set to open in spring 2026, with the housing development following in the next three to five years.
With the support of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, as well as local architects, engineers, and attorneys, Brasfield is confident that the Big Dill Pickleball Club & Academy will be a success. He hopes to create a community facility that not only benefits his team but also the entire region.
As pickleball continues to grow in popularity, the development of this state-of-the-art complex in northwest Arkansas is poised to put the region on the map as a premier destination for the sport.
