Pickleball-beer-and-food complex for the west metro

• The operator of the facility, which will be called Pints & Paddle, could not be reached for comment.

What to watch: Pending city approvals, the project could break ground in the fall, said Brett Angell, assistant community & economic development director for Maple Grove.

State of play: Pickleball is exploding in the Twin Cities.

• In addition to cities converting their tennis courts to pickleball, private operators have opened booze-and-pickleball complexes in Northeast Minneapolis and in other places.
• Life Time is also outfitting many of its clubs with pickleball courts.
• Des Moines, Iowa-based Smash Park is planning to expand its pickleball chain here. A spokesperson said the company anticipates making land purchases in the fall.