Next spring, a remarkable indoor sports facility is set to grace 1400 North Howard Street in the vibrant Fishtown area. This 14,000-square-foot haven will be a haven for both pickleball and tennis enthusiasts.

Unlock the World of Indoor Sports in Fishtown

About Court 16

Court 16, a renowned New York-based company, is set to occupy about a fifth of the block-long, one-story property. It is not only their fifth location but also their first venture outside the Big Apple. This boutique indoor tennis and pickleball club caters to both adults and children, providing ample space for play and training. It takes its name from the court where its founder and CEO, Anthony Evrard, learned to play tennis as a child in Brussels, Belgium.

Evrard emphasizes the significant need for high-quality indoor tennis programming in Philadelphia. He notes that while most tennis activities are concentrated in the suburbs, within the city itself, especially outside the courts at Penn, there is a scarcity of offerings, particularly for young children.

Unique Features of Court 16 Fishtown

The Fishtown branch of Court 16 will boast four United States Tennis Association-sanctioned courts of varying sizes - 36-, 44-, 60-, and 72-feet. Along with these, there will be correspondingly sized rackets and balls. For the little ones, there will be a tennis camp available for children aged three and above. Adults can participate in ball machine training classes. Additionally, individual or group lessons can be arranged. The courts will also be rentable for both individual and group play.

During the summer, comprehensive tennis camps will be offered for afterschool and all-day sessions. Professional tennis players and coaches will be invited to deliver lectures and conduct training sessions, adding a touch of excellence to the club.

Membership and Pricing

Membership at Court 16 Fishtown comes at an affordable price of $600 per year for a family. Non-members can avail themselves of tennis camp offerings at $700 per week, with a 16% discount for members. There will also be a dedicated retail space for tennis racquets and other equipment.

Location and Surroundings

1400 Howard Street is already a bustling hub with a gym and a daycare. Red Bull has its corporate office here as well. Currently, a lease negotiation is underway for another large space, leaving only 2,000 square feet of the 78,000-square-foot building available.The owner, Asana Partners, is an investment firm that focuses on dense, affluent, and highly educated submarkets for retail expansion. They have a strong presence in walkable areas of booming Sunbelt cities like Charlotte and Atlanta, as well as in localities like Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Miami Beach.Instead of demolishing the building, Asana adapted it for commercial uses and added retail space on the street level. Jacob Cooper, partner at MSC, who represented both the landlord and tenant in the transaction, highlights the building's ability to offer large floor plates in a high-barrier-to-entry retail market.

Competition in Fishtown

Court 16 Fishtown is not alone in the neighborhood. David Gutstadt and Amanda Potter of Good City Studio are opening a 45,000-square-foot space called Ballers in Lubert-Adler's the Battery on the Delaware River. This space will feature courts for racquet games, a turf field, a sports bar, and golf simulators, adding to the sports and entertainment offerings in the area.