An unused tennis court can look like a costly problem. The fencing, concrete base and surrounding space may still be usable, but the court itself generates little activity or income.
However, removing the court is not always the best solution.
With the right surface, equipment and operating plan, an underused tennis court can become a flexible community sports area supporting pickleball, basketball, junior tennis, fitness sessions, coaching, social leagues and private bookings.
The important question is not simply whether the court can be converted. It is whether there is enough local demand to make the conversion financially sustainable.
An established tennis court already contains several of the most expensive parts of a sports facility:
This can make conversion more practical than constructing an entirely new sports area.
Tennis New Zealand’s facility guidance recognises that community courts are often designed for multiple activities, including tennis, netball and basketball. It also stresses that courts should remain in good condition, without major cracking, uneven areas or loose material.
Before choosing a new surface or marking layout, the existing court should therefore be inspected for:
A deteriorated base should be repaired before a new sports surface is installed. Covering serious structural problems may only hide them temporarily.
The most effective conversions usually combine several compatible activities rather than replacing tennis with only one new sport.
Pickleball is one of the most obvious additions because it can be played on a smaller area than tennis and can accommodate social groups, beginners and older players.
New Zealand facilities commonly charge casual pickleball players between approximately $5 and $15 per organised session. Current examples include $5 casual sessions at Hamilton Squash and Tennis Club, $10–$15 sessions at Pickleball North Harbour and $10–$15 sessions at The Y North Shore.
A tennis enclosure may be configured for multiple pickleball playing areas, depending on the available dimensions, fencing, runoff space and net system.
However, too many permanent lines can create visual confusion. Where several sports must share the area, removable nets and carefully selected line colours can provide a cleaner result.
Noise should also be considered, particularly where the court is close to neighbouring homes.
A basketball hoop and marked shooting area can attract teenagers, casual users and coaching programmes without requiring the entire court to be permanently dedicated to basketball.
For a community facility, a half-court or shooting square may be more practical than trying to create a regulation full-sized basketball court inside the existing enclosure.
Retaining tennis lines keeps the area connected to its original purpose. Junior tennis programmes can also use smaller temporary courts, lower nets and modified equipment.
This allows the site to continue serving tennis players while introducing new activities during quieter periods.
Although an existing tennis court may not provide enough space for a regulation netball court, it can still support:
The court can also be hired to personal trainers, schools and community instructors for circuit training, mobility classes, boot camps and supervised exercise sessions.
This is particularly useful during mornings and other periods when racquet-sport demand may be lower.
Simply repainting an old court does not automatically make it profitable.
A successful community sports area needs regular programming.
Sport New Zealand recommends assessing community needs and financial feasibility before investing in a facility. Its facility-development guidance also emphasises affordability, operational planning and whole-of-life financial sustainability.
A weekly programme might include:
| Time | Possible Activity |
|---|---|
| Weekday mornings | Social pickleball or active-age sessions |
| After school | Junior tennis, basketball or coaching |
| Weekday evenings | Pickleball leagues or private bookings |
| Friday evenings | Social competitions |
| Saturday mornings | Coaching and beginner programmes |
| Saturday afternoons | Casual court hire |
| Sundays | Community events or family sessions |
This approach allows the same physical space to generate income from different groups throughout the week.
A converted court can use several income streams.
Online booking and controlled gate access allow people to reserve the area without requiring a staff member to be permanently on site.
Tennis New Zealand promotes online court-booking systems and reports that easier casual access can increase court use while connecting clubs with their surrounding communities.
Instead of charging for the entire court, the operator can charge each participant for a two-hour social session.
This can produce more income than a single private booking, provided enough players attend.
Regular users may be offered monthly, seasonal or annual memberships. Membership income can provide more predictable cash flow and encourage people to return frequently.
The facility may employ a coach, charge coaches a fixed court-hire fee or retain a percentage of programme income.
Beginner pickleball, junior tennis, basketball skills and school-holiday programmes can all create coaching opportunities.
Short social leagues are often easier to manage than large tournaments. Entry fees can cover court time, administration, equipment and prizes.
Nearby schools, retirement villages, youth organisations and community groups may reserve recurring weekly times.
These arrangements can help fill periods that are less attractive to casual users.
Additional revenue may come from paddle hire, ball sales, local sponsorship, fence signage or naming rights.
Consider an illustrative community court programme operating for 48 weeks each year:
| Revenue activity | Illustrative annual income |
| Three weekly sessions with 20 players paying $10 | $28,800 |
| Ten private bookings per week at $25 | $12,000 |
| Two weekly coaching arrangements returning $120 to the venue | $9,600 |
| Four small competitions or community events | $3,000 |
| Illustrative gross revenue | $53,400 |
This is an example rather than a guaranteed result.
The gross income would still need to cover:
A smaller court may still be worthwhile even if it does not produce a large standalone profit. It might instead cover maintenance costs, attract visitors, improve a school or accommodation facility, or support another part of the property.
The surface should be selected according to the activities that will actually take place.
A painted acrylic court may work well for permanent outdoor racquet sports, provided the concrete or asphalt base is suitable.
Modular sports tiles can provide another option where the operator wants:
However, the chosen product must be assessed for ball response, grip, weather exposure, wheelchair access, expansion allowance and the intended mix of activities.
Surfaces intended mainly for sport should also be checked before using large numbers of chairs, tables, stages or heavy event equipment.
A common mistake is completing the full conversion before confirming local demand.
A lower-risk approach is to begin with:
If the trial sessions consistently fill, the operator has stronger evidence for investing in resurfacing, permanent equipment, digital access and lighting.
The Waikato Regional Active Spaces Plan similarly encourages flexible configurations, complementary sports, moveable equipment and multi-use court options to improve facility use and sustainable revenue.
Yes, an empty tennis court can become a profitable or financially sustainable community sports area.
The strongest conversions do not rely on one activity alone. They combine a suitable surface with casual access, organised sessions, coaching, memberships, school use and social competitions.
The court itself is only the starting point.
Profitability comes from creating reasons for people to use the area regularly, making booking simple and offering activities that suit different ages, abilities and schedules.
For property owners and community organisations, an underused court may not be a redundant asset. It may be an existing foundation for a much more active and valuable facility.
