KC’s pro pickleball team getting new $6.5M home near Arrowhead, Kauffman Stadium
May 29, 2025 | Startland News Staff
A long-awaited redevelopment project in Kansas City’s stadium corridor is transforming the former CoCo Key Water resort into a vibrant destination pickleball facility with eight indoor courts, a full-service bar and restaurant, a coffee shop, and event spaces.
It also will be home to the Kansas City Stingers, a professional team in the National Pickleball League that launched in 2024 from Leawood.
SW19 at the Stadium — led by Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC), in partnership with SW19 Pickleball — is expected to open June 11 at 9119 E 39th St. An all-ages grand opening celebration 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. is set to include free open play, play with a pro experiences, food and drink specials, and giveaways.
The project addresses a need for economic revitalization in the corridor, as well as a response to growing demand for pickleball facilities in the metro, said Emmet Pierson Jr., president and CEO of CBKC.
“We’re thrilled to finally open our doors to the Kansas City community,” he said. “This project represents our continued commitment to changing the landscape of Kansas City, while adding 39 new jobs.
The Kansas City Stingers — co-owned by CBKC, Julie Gibson, and Daryl Wyatt — are just one piece of the puzzle, emphasized Wyatt, who also owns SW19 Tennis and Pickleball.
Community Builders of Kansas City is a not-for-profit community development corporation that acts as a community convener, facilitator and resource for services. Since 1991,CBKC has invested $300 million in urban renewal.
The $6.5 million SW19 at the Stadium facility aims to grow pickleball in Kansas City, not just cater to existing players, he said.
“We’re developing relationships with local youth organizations and school districts to invite the youth to come and learn the sport, no matter their skill level or experience,” said Wyatt, a former professional tennis player who played on the ATP Tour and has almost three decades of coaching experience, during which he has developed both local and nationally ranked junior players.
“We want SW19 at the Stadium to be a place where kids can come after school to hang out, play, learn, and dream big,” he added, noting the opportunities for young players as colleges begin to offer scholarships for pickleball.
ICYMI: Why a staunch tennis purist put down his racket for a paddle
Wyatt currently plays on the Stingers and is ranked third in the world in the APP Champions Division in Men’s Pro Doubles.
More than just courts, SW19 at the Stadium is expected to offer a full-service dining area — with a menu led by Keeyoung Kim of Chingu, Sura Eats, and Chingu Coffee — and court views, a centerpiece bar, and a full-service coffee shop serving locally-roasted coffee
Hours for SW19 at the Stadium are set for 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 6 a.m. to midnight Fridays; 7 a.m. to midnight Saturdays; and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Restaurant, bar, and coffee bar hours vary.
Featured Business

2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Never say die: KC forges ahead with bold transportation plan
Kansas City’s bold ambitions for a next-generation transportation system may be down — but they’re not out. On June 22, Kansas City received news that it lost out on a $50 million award that would’ve revolutionized its transportation system. More than 120 public and private leaders collaborated on Kansas City’s pitch for the “Beyond Traffic,…
KCSourceLink: Improving startups’ access to capital ‘a marathon, not a sprint’
A year ago, KCSourceLink discovered that area early-stage investors need more connections with each other and the startups they fund. To that end, the entrepreneurial resource hub on Tuesday rallied an array of major investment groups that target startups in Kansas City, building the foundation of a more connected capital community. In total, 15 local…
Events Preview: Lean Lab Friday Pitch Event
There are a boatload of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter or curious Kansas Citian, we’d recommend these upcoming events for you. WEEKLY EVENT PREVIEW The Lean Lab Friday Pitch Event When: July 1 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Where: Sprint Accelerator Every Friday, each…
Missouri Tech Corp. dishes $375K to Kansas City startups
Two Kansas City startups are among a dozen firms in Missouri that have received a total of $2.1 million from the Missouri Technology Corporation. Kansas City-based tech firms PopBookings and Moblico both nabbed matching funds — $300,000 and $75,000 respectively — from the MTC that will boost their operations. “We are supporting Missouri’s thriving innovation…







