By Joe James
Pickleball Kingdom, a rapidly growing American pickleball franchise, is making a significant push to expand its presence across the United States with 10 new locations set to open across the country in the coming months.
This announcement comes off the back of the opening of their new facility in Nashville, Tennessee, which is a huge 41,000-square-foot space that holds 14 indoor courts, climate-controlled playing conditions, a mezzanine, community room and a pro shop.
Ace Rodrigues, Founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom said: “The Nashville South location represents our continued dedication to delivering exceptional indoor pickleball experiences to communities nationwide.
“We are proud to work with franchisees Jesse and Emily DeMund, whose passion for the sport and community is sure to make this club a standout destination."
The franchise aims to capitalise on the sport’s unprecedented rise in popularity, with over 36.5 million Americans playing pickleball since 2022.
Pickleball Kingdom’s new clubs are set to open this year in locations such as New Jersey, Wisconsin, South Carolina and Washington as they also look to expand internationally.
The Recap
Pickleball has seen an explosive growth in recent years, particularly in the US, with many crediting the sport’s accessibility and appropriateness for all ages to the surge. The sport has drawn high-profile investment from stars such as Lebron James and Tom Brady who have invested in teams competing in the Major League Pickleball (MLP).
Not to mention the World Pickleball League (WBPL) in India currently which has seen sporting icon Sunil Gavaskar and current star Rishabh Pant become owners of teams, as the tournament is set to attract between eight to twelve million viewers.
In contrast to the US, where pickleball courts and centres are springing up in parks, gyms and facilities that are 40,000 square feet in size, the UK has been slightly slower to adopt the craze.
According to Pickleball England, there are approximately 300 active venues in the UK compared to the thousands that are available in the US, which is potentially showing the gap in infrastructure and the lack of mainstream public awareness across the pond.
At whatever the speed pickleball is growing, Pickleball Kingdom are committed to creating a quality playing experience for all skill levels in well-invested and comfortable spaces.
The PKLBull Verdict
Pickleball Kingdom’s strategic expansion, both within the US and internationally, reflects the ever-growing popularity of pickleball. The company’s commitment to growth, as shown by the construction of large, high-quality indoor facilities that motivates whole communities to get involved, indicates a serious investment into the sport’s future.
By expanding globally, Pickleball Kingdom are tapping into international enthusiasm for the sport, which is evident by the response in India, and are clearly looking to position themselves as an essential force in the global development of the game.
These plans highlight that whilst the US market may well be thriving, areas like the UK could draw from their ideas to help expand the game further.
Greater investment in infrastructure, more tailored marketing to get the right people involved and seeking out sponsorships and partnerships with local organisations could really help to propel the sport further.
It remains to be seen if the success of pickleball in America will take off elsewhere in the same way. But the reaction in India seems to be a good sign, and maybe other nations where the sport is on the cusp of exploding need to take some ideas from these expansion models.