Solano County athletes no longer face long drives to Sacramento or Emeryville to play competitive racket sports, thanks to a sprawling new facility that opened its doors in Vacaville. The Club in Vacaville, a 35,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor venue located at 3777 Vaca Valley Parkway, officially brings regional players a dedicated home for pickleball, badminton, fitness training, and community events.
Designed to serve as a geographical and social bridge between neighboring metropolitan areas, the facility aims to cut down commute times for local enthusiasts. General Manager Brett Stephens noted that players previously had to travel between 40 minutes and an hour and a half just to get in a quick match.
“Given we’re in between both, we can be that bridge between both locations,” Stephens said. “You don’t have to drive 40 minutes or an hour and a half to just play one or two games. When you want to, we’re right here and we offer it all the time.”
Facility Layout and Court Offerings
The massive complex houses six indoor badminton courts alongside 14 indoor and outdoor pickleball courts. According to facility management, this layout makes The Club the first indoor badminton facility in Solano County, as well as the county’s largest pickleball facility.
Operations cater to a broad spectrum of athletes, ranging from novices picking up a paddle for the first time to seasoned competitors seeking advanced training environments. Stephens emphasized that community integration remains a core goal for the ownership and staff.
“We’re trying to be a hub for the community,” Stephens said. “We want to be a place where someone can start playing pickleball for the first time, and go wherever they want with it, or bring their friends out and have a good time.”
High-Tech Training Tools and Simulators
Beyond traditional court space, The Club incorporates advanced technology designed to accelerate player development. Select pickleball courts are equipped with video recording capabilities and artificial intelligence-assisted review tools.
These systems allow athletes to break down their technique, court positioning, movement patterns, shot selection, and overall match performance. In addition to AI-assisted video review, the venue features a specialized pickleball simulator.
“I think it’s one of the only simulators for pickleball on the West Coast,” Stephens said.
Coaching Staff and Community Feedback
The coaching department is anchored by five instructors, including Stephens, who brings 10 years of pickleball experience, 25 years in racket sports overall, and a PCI certification.
Initial community response following the opening has outpaced early expectations, with strong turnouts across all age groups. Management is currently finalizing a slate of competitive and social events scheduled for October.
“The turnout has been pretty good and the feedback has been fantastic,” Stephens said. “We’ve been seeing players of all ages and it’s been great. We’re planning some events for October, and everyone’s looking forward to everything we have to offer.”
Future Expansion Plans
The current lineup of badminton and pickleball represents only the first phase of development for the Vaca Valley Parkway location. Future plans include hosting structured tournaments and leagues, alongside physical expansions to incorporate additional sports such as volleyball and table tennis.
“We’re trying to be an overall sports facility,” Stephens said. “So it won’t necessarily be just pickleball or badminton, but all of it is going to be sports, sports related, as well as offering drinks. Everything to make this one giant hub.”
For ongoing schedules, membership details, and upcoming tournament announcements, visitors can check The Club’s official website.
Worth a look
