As pickleball interest falls short, Grand Forks’ PlayIT! changing business model to avoid a ‘dead end’

GRAND FORKS — If you want to play it at PlayIT! Multi-Sports Complex, you’re going to have to pay for it.

President Bill Spatz said the facility is changing its business model and is ending memberships for all activities except for those who participate in the Grand Cities Pickleball Club events on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Patrons will still be able to reserve online, but they must pay for each session of playing pool or using the golf simulators, batting cages or pickleball courts, etc., each time they enter the facility.

The change is effective Jan. 1. Spatz outlined the changes in a letter to the community on the PlayIT! Facebook page recently.

PlayIT! Is going through some struggles after its third year in Grand Forks. Spatz says there are four avenues that could help the business turn things around:

• Reaching out to the city/state to see if grants might be available;
• Investigating whether the city/park district or any other for profit or not-for-profit organization would be willing to take over the operations;
• Investigating the possibility of opening a casino as part of the facility in conjunction with another local charitable organization, which Spatz said there has been considerable interest.
• Finding a bar/restaurant owner/operator willing to expand and operate the restaurant/bar operations.

PlayIT! is opening the PlayIT! Grill any day now at its location on 32nd Avenue South. It also has done renovations such as adding four new pickleball courts since it opened.

But interest in pickleball memberships hasn’t gone as hoped, other than the Tuesday and Thursday Grand Cities Pickleball Club reservations.

“Between the foundation and the owner of the shopping center, we have spent over $1 million to make this dream come true,” Spatz said. “Unfortunately we have not been able to create a large enough membership and daily users to maintain the current operations as the foundation’s commitment was for three years.”

PlayIT!, a not-for-profit corporation, is changing its format as it opens Play-IT! Grill.

“There will be a charge to play on any of the courts or for the use of pickleball, batting cages, golf sims, ping pong, billiards, air hockey or corn hole,” he said.

Spatz says a casino could help PlayIT!.

“We are attempting to create the largest gaming/sports facility/bar/restaurant in the state for people to gather, play and socialize.”

Spatz said his old TJ Maxx building near PlayIT! could help the city Park District cut the price of the proposed Altru Indoor Sports and Aquatics Center by 60 to 80% by purchasing his building instead of installing pickleball courts and batting cages at the new facility.

If things don’t change, Spatz said, PlayIT! could be out of business when the new sports and aquatics center opens in 2027.

“It’s not dire, dire, but the path we were on was a dead end,” Spatz said. “We’re hoping there are some things in the works that will help support it.”

PlayIT! is in the process of applying for a beer and wine license, too, which should add to its appeal.

“We’re hoping with serving alcohol we’ll create a more vibrant atmosphere,” he said. “If we do get gambling at some point, which I think we will, if the city approves it, then it really opens the place up.

“Hopefully this will be a successful concept.”

Kevin Fee is a freelance reporter for the Herald.