Blade Pickleball Courts Opens in Bowie With Pro Player Appearance

Abbi Hatton signed a full-time contract with the Professional Pickleball Association tour in December, after just three years in the sport. On April 10, she heads to Bowie.

The Blade Pickleball Courts holds its grand opening and dedication at 2 p.m. that Thursday, with Hatton confirmed as the marquee guest alongside a ribbon cutting ceremony, open play on the new courts, and the chance to meet the local player community. The club is billing the day as family-friendly and open to all ages and skill levels, making it an unusually low-barrier opportunity to share court space with a touring pro.

Hatton, from Bridgeport, has one of the quicker ascents in recent professional pickleball. Three years of competitive play, right-handed, and now under exclusive PPA contract — a structure that places her in the same organizational tier as the sport's highest-ranked players. She currently holds PPA rankings in the top 100 in both doubles and mixed doubles.

For The Blade, locking in a PPA name for opening day is a deliberate statement. Pro appearances at club launches are a well-established tactic in smaller-market facilities looking to accelerate membership signups, generate social media attention, and signal to local youth programs and high school coaches that competitive infrastructure is part of the club's identity from the start. Bowie's location in Prince George's County places it roughly midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, a corridor with significant pickleball demand and room for dedicated club space.

The April 10 opening is part of a broader wave of new facility launches this spring that collectively expand both court capacity and event infrastructure across the region. Doors open at 2 p.m.