Update: The Picklr Crisis – What We Know Now
Several weeks after reports of mass layoffs ignited speculation about the future of one of pickleball’s biggest franchises, court filings, club closures and a franchisee bankruptcy provide a much clearer — though still incomplete — picture. By Josh Kerns | Facility MagazineOctober 3, 2026 It started several weeks ago with word of layoffs. On September […]
BREAKING NEWS: Reports of Picklr Financial Crisis and Layoffs: What We Know and Don’t Know, and What It Means for the Industry
By Josh Kerns/IAPPF The IAPPF is monitoring rapidly developing reports involving The Picklr. Here is what can be established from public records and first-hand sources—and what remains speculation. Reports that The Picklr is facing a serious corporate financial crisis spread rapidly across the pickleball industry Wednesday, including claims of sweeping layoffs and an imminent or […]
The 3 Decisions That Will Define Pickleball Clubs in 2026
By: Ben Borton Co-Founder PodPlay Technologies The first wave of pickleball was a gold rush. If you had courts, you had customers. In 2026, that advantage is gone. The best clubs aren’t the ones that opened first—they’re the ones that run the best experience and build real communities. Demand is no longer the question. Execution […]
Why SilverSneakers Is a Win for Pickleball Clubs (And How to Actually Use It)
As pickleball continues to explode across the U.S., one group is quietly becoming a major driver of daytime play and long-term membership: SilverSneakers participants. SilverSneakers—a fitness program included in many Medicare Advantage plans—gives eligible members free or subsidized access to participating fitness facilities. For pickleball and padel clubs, that means a built-in pipeline of active, […]
Seattle’s Court Conflict: Pickleball Players Fight City Plan to Slash 36 Courts
The birthplace of pickleball’s largest city is poised to gut nearly 40 percent of its courts — and the community isn’t taking it lying down. By Josh Kerns/Facility Magazine Talk about irony: Seattle, the closest major city to Bainbridge Island and birthplace of pickleball — is now the stage for one of the sport’s most […]
CourtReserve unleashes power of Google and “Public Booking” to significantly boost new play and profits
CourtReserve is rolling out two tightly connected features designed to do one thing: get a new player or non-member onto your courts as fast as possible – and boosting your bottom line. The newly launched “Public Booking” feature gives racquet and paddle clubs a dedicated link that lets anyone reserve a court or register for […]
The Sweet Spot Podcast: Get Hitched – Finding the Right Player with Hitch Player Finder
February 2026 Every pickleball player has been there. You show up to open play, put your paddle in the stack, and wait — not knowing if the next game will be a great match or a total mismatch. Or you’re traveling, paddle in tow, and spending more time hunting for a game than actually playing […]
Commercial Floor Resources joins IAPPF as Gold Sponsor
CFR brings decades of national expertise including extensive projects with leading pickleball franchisor PickleRage SEATTLE, Wash. — October 30, 2025 — The International Association of Pickleball & Padel Facilities (IAPPF) today announced that Commercial Floor Resources (CFR) has joined as a Gold Sponsor, expanding the association’s ecosystem of expert providers for high-performance racquet sport facilities. […]
IAPPF Welcomes PourMyBev as a Gold Founding Sponsor
PourMyBev helping facilities tap profits with self-pour Seattle, WA, October 7, 2025 – The International Association of Pickleball & Padel Facilities (IAPPF) today announced that PourMyBev, the self-pour beverage technology company behind tap-to-activate walls, mobile self-pour stations, and integrated analytics, has joined the association as a Gold Founding Sponsor. The partnership brings cutting-edge food & […]
Fill your Courts! How to Drive Growth With Digital Marketing
The Sweet Spot Podcast – Episode with Wes Shaw and Chase Wicklund of Stack 11 Marketing 🎙️ Episode Overview In this episode of The Sweet Spot, host Josh Kerns welcomes West Shaw and Chase Wicklund of StackEleven Marketing, the only agency exclusively focused on marketing for pickleball facilities. From filling courts to retaining members, West […]