“Utah Black Diamonds Pickleball Center” Coming to Utah Summer 2025, Establishing the First-Ever Home Facility for a Professional Pickleball Team

Facility will be home to Utah’s Major League Pickleball team and will serve as a high-end pickleball club for players of all levels.

Salt Lake City, Utah–April 12, 2024 –The Utah Black Diamonds, a Premier Level team within Major League Pickleball, have partnered with GCTM Investments to bring a $25 million state-of-the-art pickleball center to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah. This marks the first high-performance facility that will be the dedicated home base of a professional pickleball team. The center, powered by The Picklr, who have a strong track record and expertise for designing premium indoor facilities, will also serve as a high-end club for pickleball players of all levels.

The Utah Black Diamonds Pickleball Center, which will be located in the city of South Jordan, just south of Salt Lake City off of I-15, will feature:

• 36 pickleball courts (30 indoor and 6 outdoor)
• A 1,500-seat Championship Court with VIP Box Seating
• Two Grandstand Courts with 500 seats apiece
• A full gym and recovery center with cold plunges, steam rooms, saunas and more
• A café, bar, and social centers
• A Pickleball Central Pro Shop

“This is a seminal moment in pickleball – for both the professional and amateur levels – to be able to construct and operate the first home base dedicated to high-performance pickleball training and competition,” said Connor Pardoe, Owner of the Utah Black Diamonds and Founder and CEO of the Professional Pickleball Association. “The Utah Black Diamonds are leading the charge in dedicating time and resources to grow the sport and advance the level of play for its professionals, and we cannot be more excited to bring this one-of-a-kind facility to life.”

Already known as the purveyor of North America’s best indoor pickleball facilities, The Picklr will partner with The Utah Black Diamonds to operate the Utah Black Diamonds Pickleball Center. Programming for the 2,500 members of all ages and levels will include open play, clinics, tournaments, league play, ladders, and more. Members will be able to access the professional-style courts, and all of the club’s perks and amenities with unlimited pickleball play for one price, just like the 300+ Picklr locations being constructed across the country.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Utah Black Diamonds to launch this pioneering facility, which represents a significant milestone not just for professional pickleball, but for enthusiasts at every level. The Utah Black Diamonds Pickleball Center will set a new standard for professional pickleball with its state-of-the-art design and comprehensive amenities that cater to both the casual player and the professional athlete,” said Jorge Barragan, CEO and Co-Founder of The Picklr. “At The Picklr, we are dedicated to growing the sport of pickleball by providing unparalleled access and exceptional experiences. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to enhancing the pickleball community, offering an all-encompassing hub for training, competition, and enjoyment of the game.”

Construction of the Utah Black Diamonds Pickleball Center is set to begin in October 2024 and has a planned completion date in 2025. See more of the facility here.

ABOUT THE UTAH BLACK DIAMONDS:

The Utah Black Diamonds are a Major League Pickleball (MLP by Margaritaville) Premier Level team owned by the Pardoe Family. The roster comprises some of the world’s best pickleball athletes, including Utah’s own Tyler Loong, Callie Jo Smith, Alix Truong, and French sensation Jay Devilliers. MLP by Margaritaville is the preeminent team-based professional pickleball league, featuring over 100 of the best athletes across 24 teams, a unique coed format, easy-to-understand scoring, iconic team owners, and the most electric live events and fan experience in the sport.

ABOUT THE PICKLR:

At The Picklr, pickleball is more than just a sport; it’s a lifestyle that fosters community, competition, and fun. With more than 250 state-of-the-art clubs, professional coaching, and a vibrant atmosphere, The Picklr offers an unparalleled pickleball experience for players of all skill levels. All locations offer professional-grade outdoor surfacing, best-in-class technology, and access to free leagues, tournaments, and clinics. Follow The Picklr on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok for news on locations and tournaments, or visit https://thepicklr.com/franchise/to learn more about owning a franchise.

*********************************************************************

2023-24 Area Conference Schedules: Conference and Team Links

The Washington Post editorial board published a scathing editorial this week offering President Joe Biden a mock speech for how he could drop out of the presidential race on July 4th.

The editorial titled, “What if Biden spoke these words?,” was published on Wednesday evening and begins traditionally enough for a president marking the 4th of July.

“The framers were shaped by hardship — they carried out a revolution at the edge of a wild frontier. They knew there are seasons to a life — and seasons of service. They knew, too, that relying on a single individual, a king, might create the illusion of strength but would be at its core fragile,” the mock speech read a few minutes in and adds:

Over the past few days, I have been reflecting on all this. My season of service is nearing its close. This was a hard truth to face. But it is the natural course of things — as evident as the progression from spring to summer, from fall to winter. This is why I have decided to withdraw from the campaign for president of the United States.

The remarkable op-ed goes on to offer a scenario for how to best to replace Biden atop the Democratic ticket.

“The Democratic National Committee, senior Democratic leaders and I have agreed on an orderly process to select our next nominee, which will include debates between now and our convention in August. My vice president, Kamala Harris, has graciously and courageously agreed to participate. Though Democratic primary voters cannot be included at this late date, their delegates will make the final choice,” the board wrote, specifically including VP Harris as an option.

The speech ends with a swipe at Donald Trump and a call for the country to turn the page on this dark chapter in its history. The board says that Biden won the presidency in the first place as Americans were “exhausted by Mr. Trump’s chaos” and concludes:

Americans, I invite you to search your soul as I have. Are we so unsure of ourselves that we will empower a would-be king, one who has been given expansive powers by an activist Supreme Court? Or will we look back on Washington’s example, in the spring of American life, and recognize that our independence is built on service, sacrifice, a willingness to assume the best in one another and the belief there will be better seasons to come?

Read the full editorial here.

Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — In this edition of “Meet the Candidates,” Marguerite Herman shares with Cap City News how she envisions governing Wyoming if elected to the state Legislature. Herman is one of two people running for Senate District 8.

The following are responses that Herman shared with Cap City News. To view the Q&As of other candidates who have also submitted answers to us, click here.

What are your top three legislative priorities if elected to the Wyoming State Senate, and how do you plan to achieve them?

My priorities grow out of years of reporting on the Legislature and advocacy for issues for the League of Women Voters of Wyoming. They are: strong public schools, healthy families and free and fair elections. How I achieve that: knowledge, experience, communication and collaboration.

As I serve on Senate committees and on the Senate floor, I can represent the interests and concerns of the people in Senate District 8, Laramie County and the state. I will talk frequently to my constituents, not just at election time, to learn about their issues and answer questions. In the Senate, I will speak with a local voice on state-level proposals. I will advocate for local schools and families as the Senate crafts the best possible legislation.

I spent eight years in a nonpartisan office, as a trustee for Laramie County School District 1, with a focus on duties to schools and children. I resisted distractions of local and national politics and alliances that put other interests first. As a senator, and with focus on the people of my district, I will work hard to understand their problems and work with diverse groups across aisles to reach solutions.

What policies do you support to stimulate economic growth and diversify Wyoming’s economy beyond its traditional industries?

People want to diversify Wyoming’s economy, but most ideas tweak current practices or they are too drastic for traditionalists. We are cautious about doing things at the expense of the small-town values and open spaces we love. The Legislature also has used tax breaks, but before we do more of those I’d like to see some analysis of how they worked.

Oil, gas, coal and other minerals have served this state well, but that reliance gives Wyoming one of the most volatile economies in the nation and makes it difficult to plan. Plus, they will run out. Fortunately, the Legislature has been good about saving one-time mineral revenue, and our General Fund benefits from savings income.

For a reliable and sustainable economy, we need new ideas and support. There is a role for the state to work with local governments to make Wyoming attractive to businesses to start or relocate here. I’m thinking about Gov. Freudenthal’s “business-ready community” program. That would include infrastructure, housing and amenities that most employers want for their workforce. Economic incentives to businesses should come with proven payoff, to help us compete with other states in the region. The Legislature should support local business initiatives, including voter-approved taxes to invest in local programs.

One of the best economic development tools continues to be our K-12 schools and community colleges, to attract young families, provide strong career/trades preparation for our young adults and coordinate with workforce needs of new and existing businesses.

How do you plan to support and improve the education system and workforce training programs in Wyoming?

I support full funding of K-12 schools and community colleges, which are doing an excellent job of preparing our children and older citizens for college, career and military. In recent years, they cooperate closely to determine local workforce needs and to design continuing programs to meet those needs.

Financial support is essential. I’d like to take a look at the adequacy and fairness of funding for community colleges to ensure ongoing service to all of our state’s residents, including those who find themselves facing a change in careers and needing updated or different skills.

What measures would you advocate for to improve healthcare access and affordability for Wyoming residents?

There’s real potential in federal funding to give low-income Wyoming families access to healthcare covered by the state Medicaid program. An estimated 19,000 Wyoming people don’t make enough to qualify for the subsidized health insurance plans on the ACA “exchange,” and they go without or go into debt. Wyoming employers that can’t provide insurance support Medicaid access. The state’s economy benefits from having a healthy workforce, and ability to pay medical bills is a benefit to Wyoming’s health care system. In addition, more people paying bills means everyone is spared covering “uncompensated care” that otherwise must be absorbed by providers, which drives up everyone’s bills.

How do you plan to balance Wyoming’s energy production with environmental conservation and sustainability efforts?

Balance requires recognizing the importance of all factors: wildlife and open spaces AND energy, industrial and real estate development. All are important to Wyoming and our future. One can’t always dominate.

I have a friend, well-respected for her conservation experience and wisdom, who talks about “the Wyoming way” of finding balance by using existing regulations, taking a case-by-case analysis and always building on broad consensus that we value all of those things: development AND wildlife/open spaces. We can identify spaces necessary to conserve wildlife habitat and migration and at the same time acknowledge development essential to take care of our people and accommodate development essential to our economy — all of it within federal and state land laws.

Within that framework, we can accommodate all essential needs. It’s necessary to see the whole state and all its interests in every decision.

Is there anything else you’d like voters to know about you?

Some biographical info:
I have lived around the world as part of a U.S. Air Force family and eventually moved to Cheyenne as a reporter for The Associated Press in 1980. I have lived in the neighborhoods of Senate District 8 for all of the 44 years since then. I was twice elected to the LCSD1 Board and remain involved with K-12 education on local and state levels. As a lobbyist for the League of Women Voters, I have been an advocate for free and fair elections. I am known for working with diverse groups to seek practical solutions to real problems. In 2006, I wrote a 400-page guide to state government, “A Look at Wyoming Government.” I hold master’s degrees in education and journalism.

I have been a business owner and have been active in many organizations, including Wyoming State Board of Nursing, Wyoming Children’s Trust Fund, League of Women Voters, Cheyenne Schools Foundation, COMEA (homeless shelter), Wyoming Breastfeeding Coalition, Wyoming Girls State, Wyoming High School Mock Trial, St. Mary’s Cathedral music and Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education (HOPE).