Sugar Land and Missouri City Ride Pickleball Growth Wave
A rapid expansion of private and public pickleball courts has reshaped recreational options in Sugar Land and Missouri City, with ACE Pickleball Club slated to open in early 2026 and several recent facility upgrades already in place. The wave of new courts and sustained monthly participation numbers signal growing demand that affects how players book courts, choose memberships, and plan local programming.
Pickleball’s local surge is accelerating infrastructure and investment across Sugar Land and Missouri City, with a new ACE Pickleball Club scheduled to open in early 2026 and several private facilities already operating. “Five years ago, if you walked into any bar or restaurant and said, ‘Hey, does anybody here play pickleball?’ They would have no idea what you were talking about,” said Mookie McDevitt, senior vice president of Strategic Partnerships at ACE. McDevitt added he expects a “tremendous amount of growth” coming to the sport, which saw its initial boom during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Private operators have been a major part of the expansion. 24 Hour Pickle opened locally in February 2024, and Life Time Sugar Land completed a 13-court expansion in 2023 that brought its total to 16 courts. Life Time sees about 6,800 individual participants playing every month, said Asia Rose, pickleball director at Life Time Sugar Land. Additional private courts are available at the Missouri City Life Time location as well.
Municipal investments have followed demand. Sugar Land now maintains 12 city-owned courts, while Missouri City oversees five dedicated courts and operates three converted courts at the Missouri City Recreation and Tennis Center that are used for pickleball throughout the week. Plans on the drawing board include a Sta-Mo Park renovation design that would add six outdoor courts and two covered courts to increase public access.
The growth is also broadening local racket-sport interest, with operators noting curiosity about padel alongside pickleball play. That crossover interest is encouraging private facilities to diversify offerings and plan programming for multiple age groups and competitive levels.
Practical impacts are immediate for players and organizers. Expect higher demand during evenings and weekends, and verify court schedules and reservation policies before heading out. Membership options at private clubs and Life Time can provide consistent access for regular players, while city courts remain the go-to for drop-in play and community programming. Tournament organizers and parks departments may need to coordinate scheduling more proactively as competition for court time rises.
For communities, the expansion has dual benefits: more ways to stay active across age groups and a driver for private investment in local recreation. With new facilities opening and city projects advancing, Sugar Land and Missouri City are shaping up as one of the region’s most active pickleball hubs.
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