PCF and Gateway Sports Academy Team Up To Launch Four New #ConnaughtonCourts
SAUKVILLE, WI – The Pat Connaughton Foundation (PCF), in partnership with Gateway Sports Academy, is thrilled to announce the donation and construction of four brand-new basketball courts set to open late May 2025 at the Gateway Sports Academy campus, part of the larger Northern Gateway development led by Three Leaf Partners.
This partnership marks a significant milestone for PCF, bringing its mission of creating access to athletics for student-athletes to life in an inclusive, innovative facility designed to serve over 50,000 athletes annually—including youth, adults, and individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
"Our mission has always been to create spaces that bring people together through sport," said Devin Grainger, Director of Marketing & Community Engagement of the Pat Connaughton Foundation. "To do that alongside organizations like Gateway Sports Academy and Mel's Village, who share that vision for inclusivity and community, is incredibly special. We’re proud to help make this space a reality and to support the incredible work being done here in Ozaukee County."
Gateway Sports Academy will serve as a home base for Chapman Basketball Academy, Chapman-North Basketball Academy, and Wisconsin Premier Volleyball Club. It will also host local and national tournaments, including the Puma NXTPRO Boys Tournament, NY2LA Summer Jam Live, and Big Time Hoops Circuit of Champions. Pickleball players can look forward to signature events such as the Red, White, and Blue Pickleball Bang (July 5–6) and the End of Summer Picklefest (August 30–31).
"Our team at Gateway Sports Academy is grateful to build a relationship with the PCF! Everyone with PCF and Three Leaf have been a huge asset to our team with this development," said a spokesperson from Gateway Sports Academy. "The overall mission of PCF aligns directly with Mel's Village where GSA is being built. Our main goal is to help make a positive impact on the quality of life in our local communities. Gateway Sports Academy is committed to creating inclusivity through athletic recreation and that will truly make this facility even more special to our community. Having four new #ConnaughtonCourts will be a game changer for our local communities! These courts are going to serve over 50,000 athletes yearly including youth recreation, adult recreation, and individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. On top of the community impact, these courts will serve as home to Chapman Basketball Academy, Chapman-North Basketball Academy, and Wisconsin Premier Volleyball Club!"
The Gateway Sports Academy campus will be a core anchor of Mel’s Village—an inclusive, community-driven development that will include 40–50 apartments for individuals with disabilities, a hotel, restaurants, retail stores, brewery, event hall, splash pad, and the new headquarters for Mel’s Charities. The facility will also host practices and tournaments for Ozaukee County Special Olympics basketball and volleyball teams.
Additionally, the broader Northern Gateway development will include 420–470 housing units, American Orthodontics Manufacturing, Anita’s Gardens Assisted Living Facility, and Mel’s Plaza featuring a bandshell for live events.
"This is about more than just building basketball courts," said Joe Stanton, Development Manager of the Pat Connaughton Foundation. "It’s about making a long-term investment in the communities we serve—supporting youth development, creating employment opportunities, and building inclusive environments where everyone belongs."
The first tournament hosted at Gateway Sports Academy—the Gateway Summer Kick-Off—will take place May 31st and June 1st, with many more events to follow.
About Pat Connaughton Foundation:
The Pat Connaughton Foundation was founded in 2016 with the mission of creating access to athletics for the next generation of student-athletes, through Courts, Clinics, and Character. The PCF focuses on teaching translatable life skills such as hard work, teamwork, leadership, accountability, and discipline. Over the last eight years, the PCF has hosted 28 Clinics, completed 20 Courts with 18 more underway, and impacted over 66,300 youth student-athletes. For more information, visit www.patconnaughtonfoundation.org.
About Gateway Sports Academy:
Gateway Sports Academy is a state-of-the-art facility rooted in the mission of inclusivity, community, and opportunity. Serving athletes of all ages and abilities, GSA will offer basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and more to over 50,000 athletes annually. As a key anchor in the Mel’s Village development, GSA plays a vital role in reshaping recreational access and employment opportunities in Ozaukee County.
Press Contact:
Devin Grainger
Director of Marketing & Community Engagement – Pat Connaughton Foundation
devin@patconnaughton.com