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 […]
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 Mahjong Could Become a Secret Weapon for Pickleball and Padel Facilities
The most successful pickleball and padel clubs in America are no longer just places to play. They are becoming social hubs, wellness centers, networking spaces, restaurants, entertainment venues, and community gathering points. And increasingly, one surprising activity is finding its way into those clubs: Mahjong. What once carried the stereotype of a retirement pastime is […]
Meet Rosie: How Autonomous Cleaning Robots Are Changing the Game for Pickleball Facilities
The Hardest Worker at Diadem Pickleball Complex Doesn’t Punch a Clock At Diadem Pickleball Complex in Jensen Beach, Florida, there’s little doubt who works the most hours and the worst shifts, for the least amount of pay. It’s not the front-desk lead, head pro, or general manager. It’s Rosie. “We jokingly say that Rosie is […]