Glass Court Swim & Fitness in Lombard, Illinois, was the site on Saturday, April 11, of an historic ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration that signified the re-opening of this iconic location that holds within its walls 50 years of history and now promises many more.
When Glass Court closed a year ago in March 2025, it hit Illinois players hard and affected so many outside of Illinois as well. It was a lonely year that took a turn for the better as 2026 rolled around and we found out that Glass Court had been purchased to once again open as a health club.
The news of Glass Court’s return has reached racquetball and handball players across the country and those in many international countries as well, so many of whom have had the pleasure of competing at the club in the past. Racquetball pro stops, state tournaments, and local events too numerous to count have been hosted there since the 1970s.
Glass Court’s new owners are Wint and Htet Aung of San Francisco, California. Their company, Zalexy Group, is aquatics-based (Glass Court has indoor and outdoor pools), but they are also embracing the opportunities the eight courts provide (including the famous Glass stadium court where so many memorable high-level pro matches have taken place over many decades). Gaining eight courts back in Northern Illinois for racquetball (as well as for handball, wallyball, and paddleball) is inspiring and exciting.
After several months of renovations and upgrades, the club has re-opened for new and returning members. The April 11th ribbon cutting ceremony included attendance by Mayor Anthony Puccio and a number of Lombard Chamber of Commerce members who helped commemorate the occasion. Refreshments and music created an upbeat atmosphere inside the club. The Illinois racquetball community warmly thanks Htet and Wint and their family along with key staffers Paul Vincent Carter (Chief Operating Officer), Scott Jordan (Sales and Marketing Director), and Pam Forsberg (Communications) for their dedication and hard work with preparations for re-opening.
“We are so pleased to bring Glass Court Swim & Fitness back to the community of Lombard and to the members and athletes who called the club home for so many years,” commented Scott Jordan. “The spirit of Glass Court is all about bringing together families and friends for fitness and sport. We’re gearing up for the next 50 years!”
The Illinois State Racquetball Association was represented at the ceremony by President Barry Dixon and Board Members/Past Presidents Laurel Davis and Cheryl Kirk. They offer gratitude to the new owners who opened their hearts to welcome back the plaque that had been mounted by the glass stadium court in September 2021 when the court was dedicated to Geoff Peters,
who passed away the following May. The plaque is being remounted next to the court, home where it belongs.
Visit the Glass Court Swim & Fitness and Illinois State Racquetball Association Facebook pages for more on the re-opening. Plans are in place to create a schedule of racquetball competitions beginning with the Summerfest Open the last weekend of July.
Source: USA Racquetball. Cheryl Kirk
