MIAMI – Pickleball, which is widely considered America’s fastest-growing sport, is rapidly expanding in South Florida, and Miami now has its first indoor facility thanks to two enterprising women.
The new indoor Dinko Pickleball Complex is a result of the efforts of Maria Sarmiento and Isabel Alonso, who met during an open play session and decided to create a team consisting of both professional and amateur players.
The 11,000-square-foot complex offers four courts, a café, a shop and a VIP members lounge. The facility provides much-needed shade from the South Florida weather, allowing players to practice and play comfortably.
“We thought, where do we practice? Where do we play? How do we gather them and do this on a regular basis? And (we) came up with Dinko Complex,” said Alonso.
One of the key benefits of becoming a member at Dinko is access to clinics with professional players.
Local 10′s Alexis Frazier took the opportunity to learn the game from Sarmiento, receiving a crash course on the basics of pickleball.
“The basics of the game is the soft touch,” Sarmiento said. “Everybody thinks it’s about slamming the ball, but it’s really about the soft touch and the drop shot.”
The Dinko Pickleball Complex, which is located at 6301 NE Fourth Ave., is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Reservations can be made through their app by clicking here.