SW19 at the Stadium, Community Builders of Kansas City’s (CBKC) new pickleball venue, is under construction and will be ready for game play by year’s end. The project is a collaboration with SW19 Pickleball at State Line in Leawood, owned by Daryl Wyatt. The new venue comprises eight indoor pickleball courts, a bar, restaurant and VIP rooms.
“When Daryl first met Emmet (Pierson, Jr., CBKC president and CEO), they just clicked right away,” said Julie Gibson, Wyatt’s partner who helps in the business. “Both are visionaries, passionate about helping others, and see the opportunities and possibilities that sports can provide. So, when Emmet asked about partnering at CoCo Keys to expose a whole new audience to pickleball, Daryl was quick to jump at the chance. We were like yeah, that fits our vibe.”
Gibson explains that what sets SW19 apart from other clubs is its player-centric focus and comparatively low pricing, which aligns with Pierson’s vision of expanding access to players of any age, skill level and geographic location. SW19 at the Stadium will be the only pickleball venue of this size in Eastern Jackson County and will provide much needed courts in an underserved area.
“Daryl’s already been meeting with school districts about adding after-school programming for youth,” Gibson said. “We want the stadium location to be a place where kids can come after school to play or just hang out and do homework. There will be play for all levels – from the beginner who just wants to hit the ball around to someone looking to take classes to become a more competitive player and even those who want to train to become a pro.”
Wyatt is a former professional tennis player who played on the ATP Tour and has almost three decades of coaching experience during which he has developed both local and nationally ranked junior players. Wyatt now aims to replicate that success by developing pickleball athletes and providing them with opportunities they might not have had otherwise. As colleges begin to offer scholarships for pickleball, this could create tremendous opportunity.
CBKC also has partnered with SW19 in ownership of the Kansas City Stingers, Kansas City’s first professional pickleball team which is one of six new expansion teams in the National Pickleball League. Wyatt plays on the Stingers and is one of the top players in the league. The NPL Championships will occur later this month in Cincinnati, Ohio. Gibson is excited about how well the Stingers played during the regular season and is confident they will close out the season in a top spot.
“SW19 is the zip code for Wimbledon so that’s where our company name came from, as well as the team’s purple and green colors,” shared Gibson. “And the Stingers part is not only because it can sting if you get hit by a pickleball, but because Daryl and I have bees in our backyard.”
Beekeeping is another common thread between Gibson and Wyatt and Pierson and his Pierson’s wife, Marion, who founded MO Hives KC and maintains an apiary on top of the Adams Mark building which is where SW19 at the Stadium is located. The “Stingers” name just made sense.
“We had mutual friends who connected Marion and I, and I think what she’s doing is so cool, especially teaching kids STEM through beekeeping and flying drones,” said Gibson. “I feel like we’re kindred spirits.”
Gibson said drone flying will be useful at SW19 at the Stadium since the very high ceilings will allow for indoor use. Drones could be used to film and photograph everything from casual play and coaching sessions to professional tournaments with teams from throughout the country and provide yet another opportunity for our young people to develop new skills as they enter the workforce.
SW19 at the Stadium will offer a new and unique venue for pickleball enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. Born from a shared vision of accessibility, community engagement and a passion for sports, it promises to be more than just a place to play and will be ready to welcome you soon.