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We’ve seen plenty of oddball things happen in Grand Central Terminal—flash mobs, pop-up dining, even an indoor light show—but this might just be the first time you can volley a pickleball under its Beaux-Arts arches.
From Friday, August 8, through Sunday, August 10, Vanderbilt Hall will swap commuters for court time as Pickleball in the Hall takes over in honor of National Pickleball Day, the sport’s 60th birthday and the upcoming 2025 Major League Pickleball Finals. The best part? It’s totally free.
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The pop-up is the work of CityPickle, the NYC-based pickleball pros behind several of the city’s most in-demand courts, in partnership with Major League Pickleball and sponsored by DoorDash. They’re rolling in the first-ever regulation pickleball court to hit Grand Central, with programming for everyone from seasoned dinks-and-drives veterans to absolute beginners who’ve only just learned that “the kitchen” is something you’re not supposed to stand in.
You can reserve your spot for open play or sign up for clinics (yes, paddles are provided) via CityPickle’s site or app. Expect a mix of friendly competition, pro tips and the undeniable bragging rights of saying you’ve played one of the fastest-growing sports in the country beneath a ceiling painted with constellations.
Court hours are generous, too: Friday from 2pm to midnight, Saturday from 8am to midnight, and Sunday from 8am to 8pm. That means you can squeeze in a match before brunch, after happy hour, or during a weekend Midtown wander.
It’s all part of Grand Central’s "Fitness @ Grand Central" series, which has been finding inventive ways to turn one of the city’s busiest transit hubs into a playground. This one’s also a teaser for the Major League Pickleball Finals later this month, when the best players in the world will descend on NYC to battle for the MLP Championship Trophy.
And yes, you’re welcome to just come watch. Between the pop of the ball, the polished marble backdrop and the people-watching potential, it’s shaping up to be a New York moment you didn’t know you needed.
Grab a paddle (or borrow one), rally a friend and see if you can keep your serve steady while trains rumble below and tourists snap photos. Pickleball in Grand Central? We’ll take that over another rush-hour crowd any day.