NILES, Ohio – For those unfamiliar with pickleball, a “dink” is a soft shot that just clears the net, a move meant to frustrate an opponent and score an easy point. It is also the inspiration behind the name of the newest business at the Eastwood Mall Complex, The Dink Yard, and co-owner Lindsay Coulter hopes the venture proves to be just as smooth of a win.
“Most of the pickleball clubs have very funny names and bright colors,” Coulter said. “A dink is a trendy play on a soft hit over the net”.
Coulter and her husband, Skylar, held a soft open for the 19,000-square-foot facility Wednesday, with a grand-opening Saturday, marking the first dedicated indoor pickleball facility in the Youngstown-Warren area.
The Dink Yard features six professional-grade courts, a club pro offering lessons and membership options designed to appeal to both casual players and competitors.
“We just wanted to create a community here, full of people making friends and meeting new people,” Coulter said. “This provides an indoor facility, since we don’t have the best weather to always be able to play.”
The Coulters, who both grew up in the Mahoning Valley, saw the growing national demand for pickleball facilities as a business opportunity and a way to bring something new to the community.
“My husband’s a business guy with big dreams and visions,” Coulter said. “He had been doing research about how these pickleball facilities are opening up all over. There wasn’t one anywhere near here, and people in Northeast Ohio are always looking for something to do.”
The Dink Yard offers two membership tiers: a $35 “core” membership that provides discounted court reservations and play sessions, and an $85 “premier” membership that allows unlimited access, earlier booking windows and discounts on leagues and merchandise. Nonmembers can also rent courts for $40 per hour.
Coulter said the price point is even more accessible when split among players. “The whole court’s $40 an hour, so if you think about it in your squares, it’s like $10 a person,” she said. “I don’t think there’s a lot you can do around here for $10 an hour as a person.”
The facility has already drawn interest for leagues, tournaments and corporate events. “We’ve had inquiries about Realtor events, marketing events,” Coulter said. “We’re also planning youth programs, themed nights and community events.”
The Dink Yard’s opening comes amid rapid growth in pickleball’s popularity nationwide. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s Topline Report, there were about 3.1 million pickleball players in the United States in 2017. By 2019, the number had grown to 3.5 million, and by 2020 it surged to 4.2 million. Growth accelerated during the pandemic and nearly doubled in 2022 to 8.9 million players. By 2023, the total reached 13.6 million.
The sport’s infrastructure has expanded to meet demand. USA Pickleball reported that Florida leads the nation with 1,071 pickleball locations, followed closely by California with 1,048. Ohio ranks just ahead of New York and North Carolina, with 528 venues statewide.
One of the best aspects of the sport, Coulter said, is that it is popular among all ages. Research from Pickleballify shows that the largest group of players is between ages 18 and 34, making up nearly 29% of the base. But the sport is also popular with seniors, with players over 65 accounting for nearly 18% and showing the highest percentage of “core” players committed to the sport.
That broad demographic appeal is evident at The Dink Yard. Gary Conroy of North Jackson said he values pickleball as a sport that adapts with age.
“It’s easier than tennis,” Conroy said. “The paddle isn’t as heavy as a tennis racket. You don’t have to cover as much area. It keeps you active.”
Chris Gilbert of Champion agreed. “The more you play, and the more people play, the better competition you find,” he said. “Anyone can play, but it stays competitive.”
Before The Dink Yard opened, area players had limited options. Some traveled to Cleveland or Newcastle, Pa., to play at dedicated clubs. Locally, pickleball was often limited to multiuse facilities where courts had to be shared with basketball or soccer.
“The biggest problem has been that there are no indoor courts really centered for pickleball,” Conroy said. “This is the first one in the Youngstown-Warren area that is dedicated like this.”
Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and pingpong, played with a paddle and a perforated plastic ball on a smaller court. Much of the game’s appeal lies in its simplicity: The rules are easy to learn; the equipment is lightweight; and rallies are easier to sustain than in tennis.
In addition to courts, The Dink Yard also offers lessons and clinics with its club pro, who provides equipment for beginners. The Coulters see this as a way to attract new players and make the sport accessible.
“People are going to make friends and meet people here, hang out throughout the day,” Coulter said. “It’s another opportunity for people to meet each other, make connections.”
Maria Vince, who handles marketing and operations for The Dink Yard, said the goal is to use events and outreach to grow their membership and bring in new players. “We want to target the younger community and give them something to do,” Vince said. “We’re planning events like singles nights and ladies nights to get young people in here.”
The Dink Yard currently employs seven people and operates seven days a week.
For now, the Coulters are focused on establishing a strong clientele and introducing the community to the club model. Expansion, whether into food service, additional courts or other amenities, may follow.
“I’m not opposed to partnerships, restaurants or other activities in the future,” Coulter said. “We just wanted to get it started and educate the community.”
The couple views The Dink Yard as more than just a sports facility. “It’s another way to serve the community and provide an opportunity for people to stay physically fit while also making meaningful connections and relationships,” Coulter said.
Players say the facility is already filling a long-standing gap in the market. Conroy, who has played for six years, said having The Dink Yard available is a major step forward.
“For people around here who love the game, it’s a big deal,” he said.
Pictured at top: Lindsay Coulter, co-owner of The Dink Yard, and Maria Vince, marketing and operations manager, stand in front of the facility’s new pickleball courts at the Eastwood Mall Complex in Niles.