For Gunn Robison, pickleball is a family affair.
“I first got into pickleball with my wife for the competition and fun,” said Robison. “Then our college-age son started to play with us. He found the sport to be challenging and fun as well, but his skills quickly surpassed ours.”
Robison plans to bring his passion for pickleball to Tigard in August with the opening of Pickleball Kingdom, located at 16800 S.W. 72nd Ave. The 42,000-square-foot facility, which formerly housed Bed, Bath and Beyond, will feature 13 professional-grade indoor courts.
One of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. The sport was invented in the 1960s on Bainbridge Island, Washington, but in recent years has seen a surge in popularity. Pickleball Kingdom touts itself as the world’s largest indoor pickleball entity, with franchises across the U.S.
The Tigard facility will offer courts designed for optimal playing conditions, combining outdoor court surfaces with indoor benefits for year-round play, as well as professional coaching and clinics tailored for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced players. The facility will also have youth programs, leagues and tournaments and community and corporate events.
Robison is the local franchisee, president, and majority owner of Pickleball Kingdom in the Portland/Vancouver market. He said he continues to look for other possible Pickleball Kingdom locations in the Portland/Vancouver region.
Robison said Pickleball Kingdom has five core values: “Life is better with pickleball; pickleball is fun; pickleball is good for you physically, socially, and spiritually; our greatest asset is our community,” and “we respect our teammates.”
“I really like how easy it was to get started in the game and the community aspect that comes with pickleball,” said Robison. “I love the fact that it allows people to compete at the skill level that best fits them but also allows you to challenge yourself to get better and play at higher levels. Most importantly, the sport is really about the community aspect and having fun while getting some exercise.”
Robison said he was impressed with the Tigard location from the first time he saw the site and appreciates the local interest in the sport.
“There is a vibrant local community that is very enthusiastic about pickleball,” he said. “We have a location that is easy to access right off the freeway and a building that allows us to offer the experience and amenities we expect with a club of our size. It gave us the ability to have 13 indoor courts, two great spaces for corporate events and parties, a mezzanine area where people can gather to watch games or socialize, a pro shop and locker areas and showers.”
Rob Streett, president and chief global officer of Pickleball Kingdom, shared Robison’s enthusiasm for the expansion.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Gunn Robison, whose experience and vision align perfectly with Pickleball Kingdom’s mission,” Streett said. “His leadership and commitment to building a strong community will not only contribute to our brand’s continued success but also create an unparalleled playing experience for pickleball enthusiasts in the Portland area.”
Before joining Pickleball Kingdom, Robison spent 25 years in technology sales and marketing, most recently serving as vice president of marketing at Microsoft. Gunn and his wife, Dana, are both graduates of the University of Washington and have three adult children.
“We are incredibly excited to expand into the Portland area and bring Pickleball Kingdom to Tigard,” said Ace Rodrigues, founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom. He said he plans for Pickleball Kingdom to be the “Amazon of pickleball.”
“Portland has a thriving pickleball community, and we are committed to providing players with a world-class indoor facility where they can enjoy the game year-round,” Rodrigues said. “This location will be a game-changer for the region.”
The Tigard Pickleball Kingdom will have hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Robison said pickleball was a perfect fit for his family and hopes to bring that spirit of fun and family entertainment to Tigard.
He added that the Tigard location perfectly fit his goals for the new pickleball franchise.
“We finally have found the right space and location to bring a location to Tigard. We look forward to joining this passionate community of players across all skill levels while continuing to grow the community and sport in the Portland area. We plan to open in August and start taking membership sign-ups in July. We are open to the public, but also offer memberships for people who want to play more frequently. Our single membership price is $130 per month.”
