FORT LAUDERDALE — If some had their way, the pickleball empire known as The Fort would never have been built.
But the $30 million complex now stands in all its glory, a 10-acre slice of pickleball paradise situated in the southwest corner of Fort Lauderdale’s 93-acre Snyder Park.
The Fort had plenty of critics before it even broke ground.
They said the noise would be a nightmare. That stadium lights would shine into backyards. That no one would come to play.
They were wrong on all counts, says entrepreneur Brad Tuckman, the animated pickleball aficionado who came up with the vision for a pickleball stadium while brainstorming with friend and partner Richard Campillo at a local coffee house.
In October, The Fort hosted the first-ever Pickleball World Cup that drew players and fans from 68 countries.
The Fort also has scored bragging rights as the official headquarters of the APP Tour, one of the sport’s major pro circuits.
Since its launch in 2019, the Association of Pickleball Players has operated the first and only pro and amateur pickleball tour sanctioned by USA Pickleball, providing opportunities for players of all levels to compete in world-class pickleball events featured on CBS Sports, ESPN and FOX Sports.
In January, the stadium hosted its first APP tournament. Another is set for Dec. 10-14.
Tuckman, the front man of the operation, touts The Fort as the world’s first pickleball stadium.
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, shown on Nov. 6. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The complex has 43 pickleball courts, including 14 covered courts that allow for play rain or shine. Guests will find a pro shop filled with merchandise, an outdoor bar called Serves and Thirds, locker rooms and a lakefront beach area right next to a full-service restaurant.
The Florida Room, a high-end dining spot with a view of the lake on one side and the championship court on the other, opened in mid-October.
Run by award-winning chefs, husband Jeff McInnis and wife Janine Booth, the restaurant seats 150 people indoors and 100 outside. The restaurant serves dinner starting at 4 p.m. but will soon be open for brunch.
“Our goal is to be the best brunch in town,” Tuckman says.
The Florida Room restaurant is open at The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
‘It’s a place for everyone’
At the Florida Room, large windows look out onto the stadium court. Restaurant tables will soon line both sides of the court to give diners an up-close view of the action.
“The exhibitionists will play on this court,” Tuckman says. “People who want to be seen.”
And in the world of pickleball, most of the players want to be seen, Tuckman says.
“Everybody thinks they’re John McEnroe in pickleball,” Tuckman says.
But even those not into pickleball are more than welcome at The Fort, Tuckman says.
They can stop in for a burger at the outdoor bar. Come check out the lakefront beach. Or stop by for dinner at the Florida Room.
A stage for live music is set up for concerts near the restaurant. The Fort also plans to host family-friendly events, including yoga classes and art festivals. The plan is to offer kayaking at the lake and a summer camp for kids.
“I want this to be the new community center,” Tuckman says. “We don’t want to be known for just pickleball, but also as a great place to stay and spend the day. It’s a place for everyone.”
People play pickleball at The Fort pickleball complex at Snyder Park on Nov. 6, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Country club vibe
Fort Lauderdale resident Bret Ribotsky, a retired surgeon who travels the country to attend pickleball tournaments, says he plays at The Fort a couple days a week. He still recalls the first time he strolled through the place.
“I thought I was in Disney World for pickleball players,” he says. “It was like, wow. It was overwhelming. It’s not like your local city park. It’s kind of the country club environment.”
To date, The Fort has more than 1,100 members, Tuckman says.
“Our goal is 2,000 members,” he says. “Out of our top 11 ZIP codes, seven of them are in Fort Lauderdale. But we have people coming here from Coral Gables and Palm Beach.”
The courts are busiest at night, he says.
“By 6 p.m., every court is full,” he says. “People are booking weeks in advance. You can’t get a court. We’re working on how to flesh out our mornings. Our goal is to fill midday with tourists and events, then locals early morning and evenings. We were offering free pickleball lessons every day to residents. Now it’s open to everyone.”
The Florida Room restaurant, shown on Nov. 6, is now open at The Fort, a new pickleball complex at Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Players from 68 countries
On a bright and sunny day, Tuckman gave the South Florida Sun Sentinel a tour of the facility.
It’s around noon and some of the courts are empty. But just a week ago, the place was jammed with players and fans for the Pickleball World Cup.
“The event we had last week was ridiculous,” Tuckman says with the panache of a seasoned promoter. He opens his phone to show photos of a crowded stadium.
“We had 3,000 players from 68 countries,” Tuckman says. “You have people staying here for eight days during the weekend of the boat show. They came from Vietnam, Australia, Argentina. Five hundred people were watching one match.”
An avid pickleball player, Commissioner Steve Glassman stopped by The Fort to catch the World Cup and was wowed by the scene.
“Just an incredible energy,” Glassman shared during a recent City Hall meeting. “Just walking around and hearing all the different languages and watching all of these young folks play an amazing level of the game.
“Seeing the shirts and on the back of the shirts, all these different countries, from everywhere in the world. It was really great. Congratulations to everyone out there for bringing all of those nations here, same week as the Boat Show. Really quite amazing.”
The pro shop at The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, shown on Nov. 6. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Capturing the moment
Tuckman is standing in the pro shop, surrounded by all things pickleball: paddles, shoes, shorts, caps and shorts galore sporting catchy slogans: “Dink or Die,” “Sorry not sorry” and “The net giveth, the net taketh away.”
“We’re the only pickleball pro shop in the area,” Tuckman says. “We have eight brands of paddles. We’re in the top tier of selling paddles in the country. People get off the pickleball cruise, come here, buy a paddle, play for an hour and leave.”
Every court is streamed 18 hours a day.
“Our members can watch themselves play,” Tuckman says. “You can get video of yourself playing on demand.”
Why?
“To brag. To improve. To show a good point,” he says. “Every time you play something funny happens. So it’s captured in that moment. You hit your friend by accident. Or you nail a great shot.”
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, includes a beach area around the lake, shown on Nov. 6. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Just a fad?
Tuckman dismisses talk that pickleball is just a fad whose time has come and whose time will go.
“There’s an addictive nature to the sport,” he says. “And it’s growing. It’s growing the most now in Asia. But it’s still growing here in America.”
The number of players in the U.S. reached an estimated 20 million in 2024, marking a 45.8% increase from the previous year and a 311% increase over three years, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.
In its first year alone, The Fort is expected to attract more than 500,000 visitors, according to city estimates.
Here’s more on how The Fort came to be built at Snyder Park.
After Tuckman and Campillo came up with their grand plan to build the world’s first pickleball stadium, they turned to attorney Ellyn Bogdanoff for help in finding the right spot for it.
Bogdanoff steered them to Snyder Park.
The deal required a public-private partnership with the city and approval from the commission. That approval came on Nov. 1, 2022.
Under the deal, blasted as a land giveaway by critics, Fort Lauderdale will collect $100,000 a year or 1% of the gross revenue collected the previous year, whichever is greater.
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, as seen on Nov. 6, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
‘Not about the pros’
It’s too soon to say how much the city will make this first year, Bogdanoff says.
“As far as revenue, we will be providing our annual revenue to the city after our year end in December,” she said.
After The Fort opened, the complaints from critics mostly faded away, Tuckman says.
“If we blast the speakers, you won’t hear it over here (by the restaurant),” Tuckman says. “Our lights shine straight down. It’s pitch black except for the courts.”
As for the claim that no one will come to play, Tuckman points to the courts.
It’s lunchtime. And there are players on the courts. Some are taking a break at the bar, sipping on a beer and biting into a burger.
It seems to be a respectful crowd. No yelling. No smack talk. No paddles flying through the air.
“We’ll throw people out if they’re being disrespectful,” Tuckman says. “It’s about creating peace of mind for the players. You can come here and not be judged, not be yelled at.
“What’s hurting the sport is the culture starting to evolve at parks that’s no longer inclusive. The core of this business is not about the pros. It’s about the Joes.”
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, on Nov. 6. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
People play pickleball at The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park displays some of their corporate sponsors on the fence, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The pro shop has a wide offering at The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, as seen on Nov. 6, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park includes a stadium, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, includes a beach area around the lake, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, includes a beach area around the lake, shown on Nov. 6. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, shown on Nov. 6. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The pro shop at The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, shown on Nov. 6. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, on Nov. 6. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park includes a stadium, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Florida Room restaurant, shown on Nov. 6, is now open at The Fort, a new pickleball complex at Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
People play pickleball at The Fort pickleball complex at Snyder Park on Nov. 6, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Florida room restaurant is open at The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Florida Room restaurant is open at The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Brad Tuckman is the co-founder of The Fort pickleball complex at Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale. To date, The Fort has more than 1,100 members, Tuckman says. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s new pickleball complex at Snyder Park, on Nov. 6. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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‘It does look pretty’
Residents of nearby Edgewood protested the pickleball project early on, saying it would ruin the neighborhood. But as it turned out, their biggest fears over noise, lights and traffic have not materialized, says Kitty McGowan, president of the Edgewood Civic Association.
“It has not been as much of an impact as we had feared,” she says.
But one day, she worries the players will stop coming.
“Does it look pretty? Absolutely. It does look pretty. It really does. But what happens when people stop playing? Then we’ll have 10 acres of concrete.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan