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Written by: E. George
Published May 28, 2025 @ 1:55 PM ET
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – A new indoor pickleball complex is poised to open in Midtown Atlanta, aiming to become the largest in the United States by the number of courts, potentially rivaling the current leader in Macon. The Pickleball Club of Georgia is planned to occupy a converted 1960s warehouse in the Blandtown neighborhood, offering an extensive array of amenities alongside its 34 pickleball courts.
The project, designed by Terminus Design Group, encompasses over 100,000 square feet and will feature not only courts but also private event spaces, a full-service kitchen and bar, a gym, and a golf simulator area. Once completed, it will surpass many existing facilities in court count but remain smaller in total square footage compared to Macon’s Rhythm & Rally, which opened earlier this year and spans 166,000 square feet with 32 courts.
Situated at 1365 English Street near the Beltline’s upcoming Northwest Trail, the new Atlanta complex has cleared the Atlanta Beltline Design Review Committee and is now awaiting permits to begin demolition and construction. Officials involved in the project expect construction to commence in the fall and aim to have the venue operational by the end of the year, with an estimated build time of five to six months.
The owner behind the Pickleball Club of Georgia, Michael Shamus, a tech consultant and active player, located the facility after an extensive search for a suitable site. The warehouse had previously been used for storing law enforcement and election equipment.
The new venue will serve as the home court for Georgia Tech’s pickleball club. It will offer membership options, walk-in play, leagues, clinics, summer camps, and after-school programs, positioning itself as a comprehensive, full-day destination for pickleball enthusiasts.
This arrival adds to the growing pickleball scene in the Atlanta area, which has already seen the conversion of warehouse spaces into facilities, such as Dill Dinkers in the West End and Painted Pickle near Lindbergh. The Pickleball Club of Georgia will outsize these by a significant margin, offering a broader range of services and activities.
Despite the new competition, representatives from Macon-Bibb County, which operates Rhythm & Rally, remain confident in their venue’s continued appeal. Rhythm & Rally has become a magnet for regional and national tournaments since its January 2024 opening, driven not just by its size but by a strong community atmosphere and hospitality. Plans for future expansions, including enhanced food and beverage offerings and year-round event programming, aim to further cement its status as a premier pickleball destination.
As the sport’s popularity surges across Georgia and the nation, these developments highlight a burgeoning market for large-scale indoor pickleball facilities catering to both casual players and competitive athletes. The Pickleball Club of Georgia and Rhythm & Rally are set to lead this growth, each carving out unique spaces within the state’s expanding pickleball landscape.