Pickleball Club Hit by Arson: $10K Gear Lost

Opportunities:

We’re always looking for opportunities to take advantage of in pickleball. Well, here’s one that’s happening no matter who or where you’re playing:

Arson Destroys $10,000 in Pickleball Gear at Memorial Park:

An ongoing investigation is in progress after a suspected arson incident resulted in the destruction of approximately $10,000 worth of pickleball equipment stored at Memorial Park. The event occurred at approximately 1 a.m. on September 25 when an intentionally set fire engulfed a shed located adjacent to the park's tennis courts. This shed belonged to the Santa Monica Pickleball Club, a non-profit organization committed to offering free access to pickleball by providing paddles, nets, balls, and barriers – all of which were housed within the now-charred structure. Memorial Park served as the exclusive storage site for the non-profit, for which they held a permit issued by the city.

Upon arrival at the scene, Lynn Soodik, President of SMPC, reported the discovery of eight batteries wrapped in copper and copper wire among the wreckage. Video footage of the incident is available, although Soodik is unable to disclose specific details.

Fortunately, the non-profit received substantial support and donations. Storage bins for equipment are expected to be placed on the court by the end of the following week. The Santa Monica Pickleball Center orchestrated a successful fundraiser that generated $2,200 in funds. Selkirk Pickleball Paddles stepped in with the contribution of 12 nets and 20 paddles. Despite limited financial resources, the Santa Monica Pickleball Club's approximately 1,800 members expressed their willingness to donate equipment, reflecting their dedication to the sport and the club's mission.

1- Tennis Channel and the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) have partnered to boost pickleball's growth. The agreement will bring most PPA Tour matches to Tennis Channel platforms, create integrated advertising-sales efforts, and launch a 24-hour pickleball channel. Tennis Channel will produce all PPA Tour events and collaborate on a dedicated pickleball channel called Pickleballtv.

2- Utah Tech University is awarding scholarships to competitive collegiate pickleball players. Sponsored by UCP Holdings in St. George, these scholarships will fund six credit hours for students actively involved in the Pickleball Club or competitive play.

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