The pickleball boom has hit Houston—and it’s only going to keep growing, said Mookie McDevitt, senior vice president of Strategic Partnerships at ACE Pickleball Club, which is set to open in Sugar Land in early 2026.

“Five years ago, if you walked into any bar or restaurant and said, ‘Hey, does anybody here play pickleball?’ They would have no idea what you were talking about,” McDevitt said.

McDevitt said between the incoming Sugar Land location, he thinks there is still a “tremendous amount of growth” coming to the sport, which saw its boom during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What's happening: A constant stream of private pickleball courts has opened or are coming to the Sugar Land and Missouri City area, including the upcoming opening of ACE, the opening of 24 Hour Pickle in February 2024 and Life Time Sugar Land’s 13-court expansion in 2023.

Zooming out: The Greater Houston area is leading nationally in the number of pickleball businesses with 59 facilities, according to the September and October 2025 edition of Pickleball Magazine.

Cabinet IQ, a cabinet and countertop company, is opening a showroom in Sugar Land.

What they offer: Specializing in kitchen and bath remodels, the cabinet and countertop company opened its fourth location in the Houston area in November 2024. Now, the company is working on opening a showroom with four full kitchen displays, two alternative area displays, a design studio and offices, owner Michael Deese said.

Notable quote: "Nothing excites us more than transforming clients' visions into beautiful, functional spaces they'll love showing off for years to come," Deese said.

• 310 Hwy 6, Ste. 100, Sugar Land

The entertainment lineup for the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was announced Jan. 8 and includes artists such as Lizzo and Tim McGraw.

Read all about it: Since 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has promoted agriculture and Western heritage through family-friendly experiences, competitions and live entertainment.

This year, Rodeo Houston will run from March 2-22, featuring 20 days of competition in bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping and women’s barrel racing and breakaway roping.

What to expect: On weekdays, NRG Stadium gates for the rodeo open at 6 p.m., with the rodeo starting at 6:45 p.m, according to Rodeo Houston’s website. The entertainer then takes the stage at 9 p.m., depending on the number of rodeo competitors and other production elements.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Jan. 5-9.

Latest update: Airport passengers in the Greater Houston area who are also CLEAR members can utilize new biometric eGates aimed at expediting identity verification at both George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports, officials announced in December. 

Also of note: Houston-area residents ages 50 and older can explore everything from history and creative writing to hands-on hobbies through Lone Star College System’s Academy for Lifelong Learning, a low-cost program offering classes, activities and social connections across the system’s campuses, as stated in a Lone Star College Dec. 19 news release.

Annual memberships, Sept. 1-Aug. 31, cost $25 per person and provide access to programming across Lone Star College System campuses, the release states.

One more thing: American steakhouse chain Texas Roadhouse is set to bring its menu once again to the Cypress area as construction has began on a new location on West Road near the Grand Parkway.