The United Pickleball Florida State Championship Series is under way at the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center/ MARK CLIFFORD

Not only is Cape Coral’s newest state-of-the-art pickleball and tennis facility now open to the public, but it’s playing host to a state-wide tournament bringing hundreds to the region to experience the new grounds.

Lake Kennedy Racquet Center opened Wednesday for members and non-members to enjoy all it has to offer, while simultaneously being the home for the United Pickleball Florida State Championship Series, which draws players from across the state to compete from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1.

The tournament was booked for the facility long before the open date, giving the city even more incentive to showcase the brand-new venue.

“It’s not by coincidence that we opened for the first day (Wednesday), which is the first day of the tournament,” said Lake Kennedy Racquet Center General Manager Tom Stegeman. “It was a good target for us to get to.”

As for why Lake Kennedy makes for a great host site for a tournament that brings with it 300-plus pickleballers?

Double champions Maryanne Bartholomey and Byron Higgins. MARK CLIFFORD

“It’s a one-of-a-kind facility for its size and scale that it has for tournaments,” Stegeman said. “So many of these tournaments struggle with having to play in multiple locations to field enough courts (and) just to have the infrastructure and place to do it. It’s just perfect timing for us. Day One way a big success.”

The tournament, put on by the United Pickeball Association, features various age brackets and broken down into skill levels, and will see competitors from across the state vie for top spots in both singles, doubles, and mixed action. Participants who secure a medal at a State Championship are eligible for a discounted registration fee to the United Pickleball Championships held in Dallas, Texas.

Stegeman said hosting a tournament of this size is a positive for the community, as countless players head to Cape Coral for a weekend of play.

“I think one of the real perks to this facility is that when organizations are trying to book tournaments from a scale standpoint, where they have to host an audience of three to six hundred people, there’s just not a lot of facilities that can do it,” Stegeman said. “So the impact that could have for our community, not just from a hotel standpoint, but from a food and beverage standpoint and exposure standpoint, long-term, is going to be huge.

“Tournament organizers, they want to make their life easy, too. They don’t want to have to be running a tournament from three different venues. When they have the luxury of a place like (Lake Kennedy) to operate a command center right in front of where all the court play is going on, it’s a real perk to them.”

Lake Kennedy Racquet Center General Manager Tom Stegeman. Mark Clifford

Lake Kennedy features 32 pickleball courts and 12 tennis courts, and boasts cutting-edge facilities tailored for top-tier tournaments.

There’s enough space where while the tournament is ongoing, there is space for members and individuals to also get in some playing time. The tournament on Wednesday operated out of eight courts, on Thursday, 12 courts, and Friday and Saturday up to 22 courts.

Stegeman said the response on the first day was overwhelming, as 245 memberships were sold.

“It’s been unbelievable. It really has,” Stegeman said of the early response to the facility. “You never know until you actually open, but it’s really been unbelievable. Just the interest has been phenomenal.”

Stegeman said Lake Kennedy is excited to host tournaments of this caliber in the future (with another possibly slated for November), as well as cater to its new members.

Bobbie Demater stokes a shot at the United Pickleball Florida State Championship Series now under way at the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center./ MARK CLIFFORD

“We need our sweet spot to have that balance of being the place that tournament directors look towards for major events, while not losing sight of the fact that we don’t want to have it be done at the expense of membership play,” he said. “There’s a fine balance there.”

To celebrate the opening, Lake Kennedy Racquet Center is offering a limited-time discount of 50% off all annual memberships for the first year. This registration period will be valid for the first two months of operation. After this initial registration period, the fees will revert to normal rates. Veterans and first responders who are residents of Cape Coral see a 20% discount on any membership in perpetuity (discounts cannot be combined).

Membership options (prices listed are full price, not including any discounts):

• Annual Memberships: Individual at $250, Household Couple at $350, Household Family at $500, and Junior at $100

• Semi-Annual Memberships: Individual at $125, Household Couple at $175, Household Family at $250

Darren Hussien makes a backhand at the United Pickleball Florida State Championship Series now under way at the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center/ MARK CLIFFORD

• Monthly Memberships: Individual at $25, Household Couple at $35, Household Family at $50

New registrations for memberships will be available at www.playlakekennedy.com or alternatively in person at the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center starting Aug. 28.

The center will offer a variety of lessons, clinics, and camps for all ability levels, as well as paddle and racquet rentals. In addition, the facility will feature a fully stocked pro shop with playing equipment and apparel, making it a one-stop venue for all Tennis and Pickleball enthusiasts and players.

Stegeman added that Lake Kennedy employees are made up entirely of Cape Coral residents, from high schoolers to facility staff.

Lake Kennedy Racquet Center is at 420 S.W. 2nd Avenue.