{"id":162804,"date":"2026-03-13T20:55:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T20:55:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/162804\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T20:55:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T20:55:46","slug":"why-nycs-luxury-apartments-are-adding-basketball-courts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/162804\/","title":{"rendered":"Why NYC’s Luxury Apartments Are Adding Basketball Courts"},"content":{"rendered":"

While fitness facilities and public parks are increasingly converting basketball and tennis courts into pickleball playing surfaces, inside some of Manhattan\u2019s most coveted new residential buildings, basketball is back on top<\/p>\n

There\u2019s been a swift takeover at tennis and basketball courts across the country in recent years, leaving anyone who isn\u2019t a pickleball player scratching their heads.<\/p>\n

One study conducted by The New York Times using aerial photography found that 8,000 tennis courts have been converted into pickleball courts, while more than 26,000 outdoor pickleball courts have appeared in the last seven years. <\/p>\n

A similar phenomenon is playing out on the hardwood. <\/p>\n

When a luxury development struck a deal with Fort Lauderdale city commissioners to replace a 65-year-old beachside basketball court with pickleball courts, a group of basketball players called the Beach Ballers launched a petition<\/a>\u00a0to save their courts.<\/p>\n

Back in New York, members of Life Time\u2019s Brooklyn\u2019s Dumbo location received a jarring notice late last year: the gym\u2019s popular basketball court was closing permanently \u2014 and pickleball was moving in. It was well-intended; after all, the luxury fitness and wellness club operator has long made decisive moves that reflect member demand<\/a>, and racket sports are booming<\/a>. But for those who had joined specifically for basketball, it was a blow.<\/p>\n

The pushback makes sense when looking at the numbers. According to a Nielsen Sports study commissioned by the International Basketball Federation, more than 3.3 billion people worldwide identify as basketball fans, making it the second-most popular sport on the planet, behind soccer.<\/p>\n

New York City\u2019s luxury real estate market has heard the same call. Several new developments across Manhattan are investing in basketball amenities, with light-filled courts available year-round, rain or shine, for residents who want to run a pick-up game or practice shooting hoops.<\/p>\n

Meet the Manhattan buildings keeping hoops alive in the Big Apple:<\/p>\n

Always in Season<\/p>\n

At\u00a0The Henry<\/a>\u00a0on the Upper West Side, a Robert A.M. Stern Architects-designed indoor basketball court awaits b-ball fans of all ages and skill levels. The half court joins other amenities, including a rooftop lawn, bocce ball court, bowling alley and pickleball.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Henry (credit: Naftali Group)<\/p>\n

Danielle Naftali, Naftali Group\u2019s executive vice president of marketing, sales and design, said that while pickleball has emerged as one of the most requested modern amenities, basketball\u2019s multigenerational pull is what gives it staying power.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOffering a classic sport like basketball creates a broader appeal and elevates The Henry\u2019s lifestyle-enriching experiences that residents of all ages, skill levels and interests can enjoy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

A Hooper\u2019s Paradise in LES<\/p>\n

Extell Development has taken the court seriously at two properties.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At\u00a0One Manhattan Square<\/a>, a waterfront condominium on the Lower East Side, residents can shoot hoops on a full-size indoor court and even join the building\u2019s own basketball league. After playing, they can cool down in a saltwater pool, soak in the hot tub or take a cold plunge.\u00a0The building also includes a two-lane bowling alley,\u00a0squash\u00a0court,\u00a0golf\u00a0simulator\u00a0and\u00a0a fitness center and spa.<\/p>\n

\"\"One Manhattan Square (credit: Evan Joseph)<\/p>\n

A similar lineup is available at 50 West 66th Street on the Upper West Side, including a fitness center, sky lounge and an outdoor saltwater pool and hot tub.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt both\u00a050 West 66th Street<\/a>\u00a0and One Manhattan Square, we didn\u2019t feel the need to choose between basketball and pickleball,\u201d said Bryan Grandison, Extell\u2019s director of lifestyle services. \u201cWe designed regulation-size courts that seamlessly accommodate both, giving residents the scale and presence of a true basketball court with the flexibility to enjoy pickleball as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Game On<\/p>\n

Also on the Upper West Side,\u00a0250 West 96th Street<\/a>\u00a0takes a similar approach. JVP Development built a half-court into the project from the earliest design stages, and developer Van Nguyen is clear about why. Not only does it bring people together and encourage interaction among neighbors, it also gives them a chance to organize a casual league.<\/p>\n

\"basketballJVP Development (credit: Evan Joseph)<\/p>\n

\u201cIn New York, basketball is woven into the city\u2019s identity and embraced across generations, from neighborhood courts to school gyms and community centers,\u201d Nguyen said. \u201cIts appeal never feels dated or seasonal, which is why we see it as a true mainstay rather than a passing trend.\u201d<\/p>\n

The court at the building also converts to a regulation squash court, offered alongside a fitness center, Pilates room, a 75-foot saltwater lap pool, steam room and sauna.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Home-Court Advantage<\/p>\n

720 West End Avenue isn\u2019t sleeping on basketball, either.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"basketball720 West End Avenue (credit: VMI Studio)<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Upper West side building<\/a>\u00a0features a multi-purpose area for everything from organized tournaments to casual\u00a0games for\u00a0b-ball\u00a0and squash, as well as a golf simulator, billiards and fitness studio.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While fitness facilities and public parks are increasingly converting basketball and tennis courts into pickleball playing surfaces, inside…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":162805,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[4567,31796,31797,75,84,83,9,24,63,10375,67190],"class_list":["post-162804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-manhattan","tag-basketball","tag-life-time-fitness","tag-luxury-gym","tag-manhattan","tag-manhattan-headlines","tag-manhattan-news","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-pickleball","tag-racket-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}