Ahmedabad is set to get its first dedicated pickleball facility at the Sabarmati Riverfront, with an eight-court centre planned behind the National Institute of Design. The new venue will combine professional training, tournaments and pay-and-play access as pickleball continues to grow across India.
Key Points: Ahmedabad's Pickleball Revolution
- Ahmedabad is constructing India's first civic-backed pickleball center on the Sabarmati Riverfront.
- The expansive 7,000 sq m facility will cater to both casual enthusiasts and serious competitive athletes.
- It aims to provide affordable access, tackling the issue of high costs at existing temporary private venues.
- This landmark project is poised to elevate pickleball from a niche activity to a mainstream sport across India.
From Temporary Courts to a Permanent Home: Ahmedabad's Vision
Pickleball is gaining momentum across the country, and Ahmedabad is now preparing to give the fast-growing sport a permanent home. The Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL), under the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, has invited bids to develop a 7,000-square-metre pickleball centre on the western bank of the Sabarmati River.
The civic-backed facility is expected to cater to everyone from recreational players looking for a casual game to competitive athletes seeking professional training and tournament-level infrastructure.
Ahmedabad Pickleball Centre: What Will It Offer?
The planned Sabarmati Riverfront pickleball centre will feature eight national and international-standard courts, alongside facilities designed for both players and spectators.
Key features include:
- Eight national and international-standard pickleball courts
- Tournament-grade lighting and warm-up areas
- Spectator seating for competitions
- Coaching and high-performance training programmes
- Sports science and recovery facilities
- Food court or café
- Parking for at least 50 cars
- Pay-and-play access for recreational players
The combination of competitive facilities and public access could help make pickleball more accessible in Ahmedabad while also creating a stronger pathway for players aiming to compete at a higher level.
Why Ahmedabad Needs a Dedicated Pickleball Facility
Pickleball has been steadily gaining popularity in Ahmedabad, with temporary courts and net-covered sports venues appearing around areas such as SG Road and SP Ring Road.
However, access to private facilities can be expensive for regular players. The new civic-backed centre could provide a more affordable option through its planned pay-and-play model.
BTech student Krish Sharma highlighted the potential benefit for local players, saying private facility rates can be high. He added that a corporation-run pickleball facility could allow people to enjoy the sport at subsidised rates while also providing a way to exercise and spend time with friends and family.
How Will the Ahmedabad Pickleball Centre Operate?
The project will follow a design, build, finance, operate and maintain lease model, with a private operator responsible for developing and running the facility.
Under the proposed model:
- Minimum private investment: ₹1.5 crore before operations
- Initial lease period: Eight years
- Possible extension: Four additional years
- Annual payment to SRFDCL: ₹7 lakh, increasing by 10% every three years
- Revenue sharing: Starts at 10% in the second year and rises to 16% by the eighth year
- Extended lease revenue share: 25% of gross revenue
Applicants must also have experience in sports infrastructure projects and an average annual turnover of at least ₹60 lakh from sports activities over the previous three years.
Ahmedabad Pickleball Centre Tender Timeline
The tender process for the new pickleball facility is scheduled to move through several stages:
- RFP available: September 11 to October 5
- Pre-bid meeting: September 21
- Bid submission deadline: October 5 at 5 p.m.
- Technical proposal opening: October 9
Once completed, the Sabarmati Riverfront pickleball centre could provide Ahmedabad with a dedicated venue for local tournaments, national competitions, coaching programmes and casual games.
A New Chapter for Pickleball in India
The planned Ahmedabad pickleball hub reflects how quickly the sport is moving beyond temporary courts and recreational spaces. With dedicated courts, training facilities and public access under one roof, the project could help serve both the city's growing player base and its competitive ambitions.
For Ahmedabad, the Sabarmati Riverfront facility could become an important new home for pickleball. Its combination of professional infrastructure and everyday access also offers a potential model for how other Indian cities could develop the sport as participation continues to grow.
