Cheyenne Suarez

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Asia’s first tournament-grade pickleball center to rise in Bridgetowne

ABS-CBN Lifestyle

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753857104869PR RLC Pickle Ball  Interior 2.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Helios Pickleball Center. Handout"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Helios Pickleball Center. <em>Handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), one of the Philippines’ leading property developers, has broken ground on what it touts as Asia’s first tournament-grade pickleball facility, as part of its broader push into sports and entertainment infrastructure.</p><p>The Helios Pickleball Center, a joint venture with Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp. (KAVC), will rise within RLC’s Bridgetowne Destination Estate in Pasig City. The eight-story, 17,500-square-meter facility is designed to meet international tournament standards, positioning it as a potential venue for Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour events.</p><p>A groundbreaking ceremony was held last July 17 and attended by RLC chairman Lance Y. Gokongwei, alongside officials from PPA and Major League Pickleball (MLP).</p><p>“Helios is just the beginning. As the first of its kind in Asia, it reflects Robinsons Land’s ambition and vision to support the rising popularity of pickleball while also creating accessible, world-class venues that promote active lifestyles, community building, and even national pride through sport,” RLC president and CEO Mybelle V. Aragon-GoBio said in a statement.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Robinsons SER</strong></div><p>The project marks the debut of Robinsons Sports, Entertainment, and Recreation (SER), a new business unit tasked with expanding RLC’s footprint in the fast-growing sports and live events sector. “With the launch of Robinsons Sports, Entertainment, and Recreation, we are expanding into new spaces that complement Robinsons Land’s recognized strengths, especially our malls that serve Filipino communities nationwide and our growing Destination Estates like Bridgetowne,” Aragon-GoBio added.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753857191088PR RLC Pickle Ball Interior .jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Helios Pickleball Center. Handout"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Helios Pickleball Center. <em>Handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>Helios will feature 25 professional-grade courts — including a stadium court for major competitions — spread across six floors of sports and recreation spaces. Amenities will include a gym, sports clinic, and F&amp;B outlets. The center adopts an open-access model via PodPlay, a digital booking platform, enabling casual players and enthusiasts to reserve courts and join games without membership requirements.</p><p>Set for completion in 2027, the facility is envisioned as a catalyst for the sport’s growth in the region, with its inclusive model designed to nurture grassroots participation while also supporting elite-level competition.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Global sports phenomenon</strong></div><p>The Helios Pickleball Center is the latest addition to Bridgetowne’s “live-work-play-inspire” ecosystem, a 30.6-hectare estate being developed as a hub for business, residential, and lifestyle offerings. Anchored by The Victor, a 60-meter public art installation symbolizing resilience and triumph, the estate is central to RLC’s urban innovation strategy.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753857257127PR RLC Pickle Ball 2.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Helios Pickleball Center. Handout"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Helios Pickleball Center. <em>Handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>Once a niche recreational activity, pickleball has become one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. In the U.S., participation jumped from 8.9 million in 2022 to nearly 20 million by 2024, with the sport’s market value surpassing $1.5 billion last year.</p><p>As global interest intensifies, efforts to elevate pickleball to Olympic status are underway, with international bodies coordinating to secure its inclusion in future Games. </p><p>By building a facility aligned with global standards, RLC is positioning the Philippines as a potential player in this rising sport.</p>

<p><i>Helios Pickleball Center to anchor sports and recreation growth in </i>Robinsons Land Corp.<i>’s flagship destination estate.</i></p>

Helios Pickleball Center to anchor sports and recreation growth in Robinsons Land Corp. ’s flagship destination estate.