Defined Pickleball celebrates opening

RIO RANCHO — Anticipation was in the air in the form of a pickleball July 11 as Defined Pickleball celebrated its highly awaited opening.

Nearly all 18 courts in the brand new facility, located in the Hilltop Plaza along NM 528, were full at the celebration, but outside, board chair Paul Blanchard was informing the masses about Defined Pickleball’s services.

“This is the largest facility in the state. In fact, it’s one of the largest in the United States. So, for an indoor, 18 courts is an extremely large pickleball facility,” he said of the location that officially opened July 1.

The large facility sits adjacent to Defined Fitness in the Hilltop Plaza strip. Inside there are several courts surrounded by fences to contain each game. There is also a dining area for players to take a break and snack.

Blanchard added that the local pickleball facilities have been very successful, attributing it to Rio Rancho.

“We want to thank Rio Rancho so much for how easy it was to do business here and how welcoming this community actually really is,” he said.

He thanked several people, including general manager Alexa Hintz, who will be overseeing the Rio Rancho location who is also a Rio Rancho resident.

“We couldn’t be more excited to open our doors to the community,” Hintz said in a release.

She stated that pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country and the company is thrilled to bring “a dedicated, top-quality facility” to not just Rio Rancho but all of New Mexico.

“Whether you’re a seasoned player or brand new to the game, Defined Pickleball has something for everyone,” she said.

One of Sandoval County’s own, Assessor Linda Gallegos, was there for the celebration and also played with a group for the day.

She said she is a regular at the pickleball courts near her home.

Defined Pickleball is also building its team and currently hiring for multiple full-time and part-time positions.

There is a membership fee as well as open play available for booking. The facility has a gift shop, too.

For more information, visit definedpickleball.com.