Eko Padel and Pickle, a new indoor sports facility, is set to open in late March inside Miami's Dolphin Mall. The 20,000-square-foot club will offer padel and pickleball courts along with community-focused amenities. Owner Maria Pena aims to create an inclusive space for players of all levels.
Eko Padel and Pickle plans to launch in the third week of March at 11401 N.W. 12th St., #E615, within the former CineBistro cinema space at Dolphin Mall in Miami, Florida. The project, developed over more than two years, addresses the challenge of securing indoor space with the necessary 24-foot ceiling height for padel courts. Dolphin Mall's high foot traffic makes it an ideal location, according to owner Maria Pena.
The facility will include six indoor courts—three for padel and three for pickleball—plus locker rooms, showers, lounge seating, a retail store, and a coffee shop. Pena envisions the club as a modern sports and lifestyle hub that fosters community. “People are talking about your third space now, the space that is not work, it’s not home,” she said. “We’re trying to create this community that will be a third space for people where they can train, have a community, consume at the coffee shop and be a part of an active social community.”
Unlike some exclusive padel clubs, this one prioritizes inclusivity. “We’re trying to be the opposite. We’re trying to be all inclusive. It doesn’t matter your level, it doesn’t matter your background,” Pena explained. Visitors can choose memberships, pay-per-visit options, or play packages, and the club will accommodate private events and birthday parties.
The coffee shop will serve empanadas, sandwiches, coffee, and New Zealand-style ice cream, with plans to add beer and wine. Pena, who has a tennis background, started the venture after struggling to book court time at another facility. “Even if I wanted to pay and play, I couldn’t,” she noted. “I saw that there was a demand for it.”
Investors include former NFL player Trey Boston, who played for the Carolina Panthers; Argentine basketball player Lucas Faggiano of Boca Juniors; and former Real Madrid basketball player Ariel Eslava. Pena highlighted the sport's growth: “The potential is huge here in the U.S.” The club will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., pending final approvals.