Construction Nears Completion
After months of navigating construction challenges from unexpected boulders to record-breaking building erection timelines, Open Play Pickleball and Padel Club is ready to welcome its first members.
Owner Yev Galper announced this week that the club is now accepting Founding Memberships for the new indoor facility currently under construction at 124 E Main Street. This premier indoor and outdoor facility will feature 11 pickleball and eight padel courts, making it New England’s largest pickleball and padel complex when it opens in the first quarter of 2026.
“Now that we have a building shell up, we can finally visualize the finish line of this ground-up construction marathon,” said Galper, documenting the construction journey on social media. “We’re confident we’ll be on schedule to open in early 2026, and we’re excited to start building our community of founding members.”
Unique All-Inclusive Membership Model
Open Play is introducing an all-inclusive membership model that covers court time, open play sessions, leagues, and tournaments without additional fees – a departure from the typical pay-per-hour model used by most racquet sports facilities.
“With our all-inclusive membership, you don’t have to pay extra for open plays, court reservations, leagues, or even tournaments,” Galper explained. “Everything is included in your monthly membership fee.”
The club is offering two membership tiers for Wave 1 Founding Members:
- All-Inclusive Pickleball: $139 per month (125 memberships available)
- All-Inclusive Padel & Pickleball: $189 per month (25 memberships available)
For comparison, non-members will pay $60 per hour for pickleball courts and $120 per hour for padel courts.
Construction Challenges and Triumphs
The construction process has been anything but smooth sailing. Galper discovered that the property was “peppered with rocks, boulders, and ledge,” requiring expensive removal that wasn’t anticipated in the original timeline.
“I kept my fingers permanently crossed during the last few weeks, praying we wouldn’t find these precious stones,” Galper said with a laugh. “At least they’re precious for the site contractor getting a fortune for breaking them.”
Despite the challenges, the building erection team made remarkable progress, completing the skeleton and installing wall panels on all four sides in two weeks.
“The building erection team is just phenomenal,” Galper said. “It feels like they’re Olympic athletes trying to break all possible records.”
Growing Sport Popularity
The facility addresses the growing popularity of pickleball and padel in the region. Pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in America, has seen explosive growth among players of all ages. While newer to the U.S. market, Padel is rapidly gaining popularity here. Similar to Pickleball in the US, Padel is the fastest-growing sport globally.
“We’re seeing tremendous interest from the local community,” Galper noted. “People have been following our construction journey and asking about membership pricing for months.”
Community Impact
Open Play Pickleball and Padel Club represents a significant investment in Hopkinton’s recreational infrastructure. The facility will provide year-round indoor playing opportunities regardless of New England’s weather conditions.
“We’re not just building courts; we’re building a community,” Galper emphasized. “This is about bringing people together around sports accessible to players of all skill levels and ages.”
Membership Details
Wave 1 Founding Memberships require a yearly commitment and will be available starting October 25th at 10 a.m. through the club’s website at openplayppc.com. Once the initial 150 memberships are sold, the prices will go up.
The club is sponsoring a Wicked Pickle Tournament at the YMCA in Hopkinton on October 25th, where players and spectators can also secure their Founding Memberships in person.
For more information about Open Play Pickleball and Padel Club, visit openplayppc.com, follow the construction progress on the club’s Facebook or Instagram pages, or email Yev at yev@openplayppc.com.
Paddles up!
Recently Open Play submitted a request to be considered for a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) for the new Pickle/Padel Club they are currently constructing beside Fairview Estates.
My interpretation of a TIF (and clearly I could be wrong) is that a TIF is an ‘incentive’ used to attract businesses to locate in one’s town, rather than another. This decision is made because the town’s people believe there is some benefit to the town and/or residents by having the business in town. I credit the promoter for having the chutzpah to request a TIF from Hopkinton in mid construction! The granting of a TIF requires several steps, culminating in an affirmative vote at a Town Meeting.
I have asked ‘Town Hall’ for any history of prior TIF agreements Hopkinton may have granted, and I still eagerly await that information. The TIF granted to LYKAN BioScience LLC in 2019 is a public document, readily available, and quite, in my opinion, generous. By now, according to that TIF agreement, there should be 125 new employees at LYKAN (though there is nothing in the agreement stipulating that they be residents of Hopkinton), and LYKAN should be paying approximately 50% of the taxes they would otherwise now owe the Town.
Open Play is now offering a limited number of memberships at $120/month for Pickle Ball and $189/month for both Pickle and Padel. Clearly this club is not a place for we hoi polloi. I suggest we hoi polloi, who already, according to the Town CFO Kyla LaPierre, face a “… not good outlook…” given Hopkinton’s impending financial situation, write or call our Select Board and tell them not to even consider offering a TIF to Open Play.
Maybe instead of the scenario to attract a new business, that there is a subsidy for Hopkinton residents to use the facility. So the town would not have to construct their own athletic facilities and partners with private businesses to provide much needed resources.