If you build it, they will come describes more than a baseball field in a movie; it also applies to the newly built indoor/outdoor pickleball facility at MVP Athletic Club – Crahen. Over the years, MVP has grown from offering a few pickleball-lined indoor courts to one of the premier pickleball facilities in the area. With an eye on member strategy, community relations and continued growth, the facility has proven to be a wise investment in more ways than one.
MVP Athletic Clubs are full-service athletic clubs with five locations in West Michigan. The Crahen location specifically is known for its strong racquet sports programming. As pickleball burst onto the racquet sport scene, MVP Crahen responded by adding pickleball lines to indoor basketball space, creating four dedicated pickleball courts. As the sport continued to grow, the club added pickleball lines to indoor tennis courts; however, sharing the space created scheduling issues. With plans already drawn up for an expansion due to a large availability of buildable space, MVP decided the time was right to begin work on their dedicated pickleball facility.
A groundbreaking on December 1, 2024, officially announced the construction of the 17,000 square foot facility featuring six indoor year-round courts and six outdoor courts. The thoughtfully designed addition also includes an outdoor turf area for yard games, two permanent sets of cornhole/bags, shade structures for rain and sun, picnic tables, concessions and more.
Jason Chen, Regional Racquet Sports Manager for MVP says they are excited with how things are going after a full year with the new courts.
“Before the new build and especially in the winter, pickleball had to share with the tennis courts, so it was nice to be able to separate the two for court time etc. Tennis players are happy, pickleball players are happy, and both programs continue to grow!”
Neighbors are also happy since the new outdoor courts include acoustic paneling. The heavy-duty vinyl material absorbs some of the sound, prevents echoing and acts as a wall and an eight-foot fence on both sides. The paneling provides a win-win as nearby homeowners enjoy quieter backyards and the players have a bit of a windscreen for better playing.
As a members-only club, MVP requires an “All-Star” upgraded membership for pickleball access. For only $35 more per month, the entire household has access to the new pickleball building, along with access to the four other MVP locations. All-Star members can also take private and small group lessons, receive a 50% discount on court fees and discounts on retail, concessions and guest passes. Due to the availability of other courts in the area, MVP does not offer a Pickleball Only membership to maintain availability for their All-Star members.
“It’s great to see MVP members travel from other clubs for the facilities,” Jason says. “It has become so popular that members are on the app at 6:58 AM so they are ready for reservations to open at 7:00 AM to secure their playing time.”
An added benefit to having a dedicated pickleball facility is the opportunity to hold tournaments without infringing upon the tennis facilities.
MVP currently hosts six tournaments a year, including their most recent charity tournament that raised over $2,000 for the AYA Youth Collective serving underprivileged youth in the Grand Rapids area. Jason says the upcoming family tournament is always a great time.
“It’s so fun to see parents and grandparents playing with their kids and grandchildren,” Jason adds.
Tournaments are open to non-members, and Jason says a good number participate. Opening the doors to all broadens the competition, fundraising, and memberships!
“We find some people who have never been to MVP before come because of the tournaments and end up joining afterwards. New members are always welcome.”
For clubs considering an expansion of their pickleball-only facilities of any size, MVP Crahen can be a great example of principles to consider when looking at an expansion. Even if a 17,000-foot facility isn’t feasible, it might be time to consider adding a few dedicated courts that could increase member engagement, strengthen program retention, and new member recruitment. While the scope of MVP’s investment may not be feasible for every club, the principles behind their success—increased member satisfaction, tennis and pickleball program growth, and happier community members—are scalable. As the sport continues to grow, now is the time for clubs to take a serious look at what a dedicated pickleball space could mean for their future.
