BREAKING: Picklr files for Chapter 11, announces $4.5M investment commitment to restructure
By Josh Kerns & David Johnson/IAPPF As expected for several weeks, Picklr, Inc., the corporate parent behind The Picklr franchise system, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Friday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. In an October 10 public statement, the company announced a $4.5 million financing commitment, subject to […]
IAPPF partners with RSPA to raise coaching standards, elevate your facility instruction and programming
We’re thrilled to announce the IAPPF has signed a new partnership agreement with the Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA), which represents more than 12,000 racquet sports professionals worldwide. Under the agreement, IAPPF is an Official Partner of RSPA, and RSPA is an Official Association Partner of IAPPF. RSPA members receive: RSPA members will receive a […]
Smarter Lighting and HVAC Could Help Facilities Cut Energy Costs
New Edison Lights and Energie Multisport are joining forces to improve building performance and playing conditions at indoor sports facilities. Lighting and HVAC systems directly affect the player experience—and represent some of the largest operating expenses for indoor pickleball and padel facilities. A new partnership between New Edison Lights and Energie Multisport aims to help […]
The Biggest Mistake Investors Can Make? Chasing the Hottest Market
By Tim Bainton, Blue Chip Sports Management One trend concerns me as I watch capital flow into racquet sports. Too many investors are racing to secure locations in what they perceive to be the epicenters of pickleball and padel growth. Those markets generate headlines, attract attention, and create excitement—but they also command premium land prices, […]
Pickleball’s First Simulator: Everybody Plays, You Get Paid
Playkout turns 150 square feet into pickleball anyone can play — kids, families, beginners, 4.0s — and six ways for operators to charge for it. Not everything your visitors want from your facility requires a court. Pickleball’s appeal has always been that anybody can play it — that’s why open play works, clinics fill, and […]
How One Startup Helped Transform Pickleball — And Why Facilities Are Benefiting
When Brandon Mackie first stepped onto a pickleball court at a bar in Austin in late 2021, he had no idea he was about to help reshape one of the sport’s most important pieces of infrastructure. A lifelong tennis player, Mackie admits he was humbled by his first pickleball experience. “I lost, I was terrible. […]
“Game-Ready by Open”: The Opening Checklist That Makes Your Facility Feel Premium Every Morning
Contributed by IAPPF Sponsor: Operation Autopilot Members decide if you’re “premium” before the first serve Most clubs obsess over programming and pricing. But the daily experience is built on something simpler: – courts feel clean underfoot – lighting is consistent – nets are right – no trash or hazards – everything looks intentional USA Pickleball […]
How Does your Facility Stack up? Take the Facility Ally Scorecard
Contributed by Luke Wade, CEO Facility Ally I walk into a brand-new pickleball facility on a Tuesday at 2PM. Eight courts. Empty. The owner shows me the build-out. Custom paddle wall. Branded merchandise. A lounge that cost six figures. Then he asked the real question, how do I fill this place? This is the conversation […]
The Pickle & Chill Playbook
Inside the Columbus, Ohio club whose three-year rise from converted tennis facility to host of Major League Pickleball and the APP Tour offers a model for operators everywhere. By Josh Kerns/IAPPF In a sport where new facilities open weekly, Pickle & Chill in Columbus, Ohio could be considered one of the pioneers. In just over […]
IAPPF 2.0; What this means for you, and how you can benefit
A letter from IAPPF CEO David Johnson When I opened Pickleball Station in 2017 (one of the first dedicated indoor facilities in the world,) I had zero resources to draw on. No benchmarks. No industry peers. No playbook. I built it on trial, error, and expensive guesses. That’s exactly why we launched the IAPPF, and […]