Date: 202101
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.TRACON, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Climb; Climb
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types
Detector: Person Dispatch
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Contributing factors: ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Primary problem: Environment - Non Weather Related

Narrative: On climb out of ZZZ [airport] we received an ACARS message from Dispatch saying that the TRACON was closing and that we should ask ATC if we could do Tower enroute to get into ZZZ1 [airport]. It also said if we couldn't return to ZZZ. We were still climbing on the SID out of ZZZ and I was still running the after Takeoff checklist. I finished the checklist up and consulted the FO. We were both confused by this message. I went ahead and asked ZZZ Departure if they knew anything about it. They did not know anything then handed us off to ZZZ Center. I checked in with ZZZ [Center]. I responded to Dispatch asking which facility it was that was closing. They replied with ZZZ1 TRACON and that it was to be closed from XA:30 to XB:30z. After getting this response. I asked ZZZ Center if they had any information on it. They checked with their managers and didn't know anything about TRACON in ZZZ1 shutting down. I messaged Dispatch saying that we wanted to continue and see how things progress since ZZZ [Center] said they didn't know anything. The reply we received was a strong negative. Dispatch wanted us to turn back to ZZZ [airport] right away. At this point in the flight; we were half way to ZZZ1 [airport]. We were estimated to arrive in the ZZZ1 [airport] area around XB:00z and had enough fuel onboard the aircraft to hold for a while before having to go to an alternate that we would have added. ZZZ2 [airport] was close and had good weather. Dispatch didn't give us any time to explore other alternatives; so we complied with their demand to return to ZZZ [airport]. The entire time; my FO and I were trying to figure out why we were returning to the airport. The workload was high on the return. The risk for making mistakes was pretty high on both our parts. Thankfully; ZZZ [airport] wasn't busy and was able to cut down a lot of our workload by giving us a descent and direct a fix on the approach. Once on the ground I was able to call Dispatch and talk. They closed the TRACON for COVID cleaning and only gave about 20 minute notice. It sounded like the dispatcher knee jerk reacted to it and wanted us on the ground as soon as possible. That's why she didn't want us to continue. I complied because it was a safe course of action to return and because I couldn't get Dispatch to agree to continue. So this was the safest course of action that was mutually agreeable.Suggest going over delay options inflight with dispatch and to not make the decisions for the flight crew. Dispatch should seek the advice of other dispatchers and most importantly of the crew to come up with many options and narrow it down the best one in a non-time critical situation as this. Freaking out and demanding an air return is not a normal way to run an operation. Dispatch should be made aware that there are many options available to crews to stay in the air longer while saving fuel. We could have easily slowed down and held until TRACON opened again or we could have diverted to ZZZ2 [airport] and picked up some more fuel if we needed to. Both would have been faster options of keeping the operations going while being safe.


Second narrative: After departing ZZZ we received an ACARS message from Dispatch informing us that ZZZ1 TRACON would be closed upon our arrival.  Shortly after we received another message instructing us to return to ZZZ.We received an ACARS message from Dispatch.The flight return to ZZZ per Dispatch request due to ZZZ1 TRACON closed prior to us landing.We returned to ZZZ and the Captain contacted Dispatch after returning to the gate.Suggestion - If possible; comply with Dispatch instructions.  Coordinate with Dispatch for clarification via ACARS or after returning to the gate.


Synopsis: Air carrier flight crew reported receiving a message from Dispatch during climbout that destination TRACON was closing before arrival.  Dispatch told crew to return to departure airport.