BUFFALO, N.Y. — There's a new sound greeting people in the lobby of Buffalo's tallest building. Periodically, pickleball whacks now echo throughout the large marble ballroom.
"We have these beautiful 80 foot ceilings, lot of natural lighting, 180 degree views," Seneca One's Pickleball Manager Adam Leberer said. "We just thought it was a very beautiful setting for something really unique like this court."
The Douglas Development team decided to build the court earlier this year.
"Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. and we thought we had an opportunity to bring that growth to Downtown Buffalo," Leberer said. "Here at Seneca One we're really all about bringing people together and that's kind of what pickleball does. So we thought if we combine those two things, it would be a big hit and really has so far."
They started with a free trial period, and more than 500 people signed up in the first two weeks.
"It's been huge. People are sneaking in and playing at all hours of the day. People are bringing their paddles to work. It's really been a big hit so far," Leberer said.
Now they're switching to a paid model. An hour on the court costs $40, and it's open to the public.
Leberer pointed out that if you play doubles, it comes to $10 a person.
"The great thing about pickleball is you can learn it really easily," he said. "You can learn in about twenty minutes and that really fosters that sense of social aspect of it, because anybody can learn really quickly."
Speaking of the social aspect, this court also has a full bar.
"That's what's cool about pickleball, it can be as competitive or as friendly as you want," Leberer said. "But don't have too much, you've got to be on your A game."
Next up, they're planning classes and a corporate challenge tournament for the businesses in the building.
"What we've seen a lot is strangers coming together and playing together. So maybe one group leaves, the other comes, when they exit they say why don't we come back next week and play together," Leberer said. "It's a lot about strangers coming together and playing, fostering that social aspect, that sense of community that I think Buffalo's famous for, and it translates well to pickleball. "
To reserve the Seneca One pickleball court, click here.
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