Old Sears building in Yuma to be turned into indoor sports facility

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Yuma will be receiving a new indoor sports and community event facility.

The old Sears building will be transformed into the Desert Paddle and Pickleball Club.

The 89,000 square foot indoor facility will be equipped with 11 pickleball and six paddle courts, along with dining and community events.

One local pickleball player is looking forward to the new space.

"The more the word gets spread out the more people play because it's a pretty simple game to play, even if you're not that good and a good way to get out of the house and be active," said Lucky Castaneda.

The company Innov-R, who is in charge of the design and construction, says they would like to make it into something Yuma hasn't had before.

"It goes beyond just a sports complex. We want to do a community event place that takes into account sports, a food court…We're trying to have a space for families to gather, but at the same time give space to businesses to be able to make use of the facility," the company says in a statement given to KYMA.

The project is currently in development but could be open as early as next year.