Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC) plans to remake the former CoCo Key Resort, which it acquired along with the adjacent Adams Mark hotel in 2020, into a best-in-class pickleball destination and home of Eastern Jackson County’s first professional pickleball team. Named SW19 at the Stadium, it will feature eight indoor pickleball courts, a bar, restaurant and VIP rooms. CBKC President and CEO Emmet Pierson, Jr., emphasized that a main goal of the new project is inclusivity and expanding access to underserved markets, not surprising given health and wellness is part of the organization’s strategic plan.
“Right now, there are no pickleball venues in Eastern Jackson County and it was important to me to expand the pickleball community and introduce it to new audiences, especially underserved youth since colleges are starting to offer pickleball scholarships,” said Pierson. “We also want the venue to be available to all levels of talent, from the casual beginner to competitive pro.”
By “we” Pierson refers to SW19 at the Stadium co-owners Daryl Wyatt and Julie Gibson, who own SW19 Tennis and Pickleball in Leawood. Wyatt is a former professional pickleball player and shares Pierson’s desire to introduce the pickleball community to a more diverse audience.
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America for the third consecutive year with an estimated 50 million Americans partaking, but it is a predominantly white sport. Nearly 70 percent of casual players and over 80 percent of core players are white and only 7.3 percent are Black according to the Sports Fitness Industry Association report.
CBKC, Wyatt and Gibson have joined forces not only for the approximately $4.5 million SW19 at the Stadium project but also to establish an ownership group for the coming pro pickleball team, which will be based there. Together, they co-own the Kansas City Stingers, a team formed following the selection of Kansas City as one of six U.S. expansion markets by the National Pickleball League earlier this year.
After acquiring the CoCo Key Resort property and gutting the interior, Pierson initially entertained a number of options for its future use, but he kept coming back to pickleball and expanding its access to different demographics. After meeting Wyatt, conversations began to develop into a plan for courts at the former CoCo Key property. The development team includes Monarch Build as the general contractor and Helix Architecture + Design as the architect.
What’s next for the former Adam’s Mark property, a 369-room hotel, is in the planning stages but will focus on options that complement SW19 at the Stadium. Mixed-income housing and hospitality operations on select floors are among the ideas currently on the table.
“It’s such a great location, very visible and close to the stadium, and it would be fantastic to have something in place in time for the 2026 World Cup,” Pierson said, noting that financing would be the biggest hurdle for the community development organization.
Regardless, Pierson remains bullish on the pickleball concept and looks forward to expanding its audience and access.