The polarizing pop of paddles swatting pickleballs will soon accompany the comings and goings of commuters at the McLean Metro station in Tysons.
Capital One Center will open four new pickleball courts tomorrow (Wednesday) to replace the ice skating rink in Metro Park, the plaza at 1820 Capital One Drive South outside the Metro station’s recently added north entrance.
Offering an alternative to the indoor Pickleball Club of Tysons, Capital One Center’s outdoor courts span more than 8,000 square feet and are accompanied by bleacher seating that can accommodate up to 150 people.
“The four pickleball courts are suitable for both singles and doubles play,” Capital One Center said in a media advisory. “[They] utilize a premium acrylic hardcourt surfacing material, Laykold, while offering professional-grade nets and court striping which meet USA Pickleball standards.”
The courts will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. through early November, after which they will presumably give way to the ice skating rink.
According to a Capital One Center spokesperson, the courts are free to play, and walk-ups are allowed, but the developer recommends booking a time slot in advance through Court Reserve. Groups looking to reserve the courts for a private event or tournament can do so by emailing reservations@capitalonecenter.com.
Players are also advised to bring their own paddles and balls, since there’s a “limited quantity” of equipment available onsite, per the media advisory.
The opening of the pickleball courts coincides with a number of spring events and promotions at Capital One Center, including the return of its annual Easter egg hunt this Saturday (April 4).
After establishing The Perch, an elevated skypark, in 2021, as part of the transformation of its corporate headquarters campus into a more public-oriented, mixed-use development, Capital One has recently shifted its focus to offering more street-level amenities, Vice President of Global Workplaces Services Erin Mical said at the Tysons Community Alliance’s Vision Tysons summit on March 12.
In addition to completing Metro Park, which features outdoor seating, boardwalks and paved paths, and a play area as well as the pickleball courts, the development opened a 30,000-square-foot playground across Scotts Crossing Road in Capital One East Park last September. It has also been filling out its ground-floor retail space with restaurants.
Metro Park was built on top of a five-level underground parking garage that follows the same cost structure as the Wegmans garage. After getting two free hours, users are charged $6 for the third hour, $8 for three to four hours, $16 for four to six hours, and a maximum of $25 for up to 24 hours.
While the 5 million square feet of development planned on its existing, 26-acre campus hasn’t been fully built yet, Capital One is already setting its sights on additional expansion, buying more than 14 acres of land last month in the nearby Scotts Run neighborhood south of Route 123.
