Top 6 Ways To Invest In Pickleball: Something For Everyone

Last updated: July 24, 2023

Who Can Invest In Pickleball?

The short answer is almost anyone. Read on to learn more.

What is Pickleball?

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the US and abroad. It is a fun sport and an easy game to learn and play. Over the last several months, we have seen some high-profile people investing in this sport. But why? Here is a look at some of the statistics per USAPA (national governing body of the sport).

Key Statistics On Growth:

Pickleball had a 14.8% growth rate from 2020 to 2021 which followed on the heels of a 21.3% growth rate the previous year and contributed to an 11.5% average annual growth rate over the past 5 years. This puts 2023 on pace for 5.9 million players for 2023.

SIFA, the fitness industry association, indicates the sport grew 85.7% between 2021 and 2022 confirming pickleball as the fastest growing sport.

Growth Statics & Demographics

	Total Participants	Core Players	Casual Players
Number of Players	4.8 million	4 million	3.5 million
Age (Average)	38.1 years	47.9 years	34.3 years
Growth Rate (2020 to 2021)	N/A	0%	22%
Gender Ratio (Men/Women)	60%/40%	N/A	N/A
Players 55 or Older	N/A	52%	21%
Players 54 or Younger	N/A	N/A	79%
Growth Rate for Under 24 Years Age Group	21%	N/A	N/A
Growth Rate for 55+	10%	N/A	N/A

Note:

• The total number of players adds up to more than 4.8 million due to the overlap between core and casual players.
• Growth rates, age groups, and gender ratios are not broken down separately for core and casual players.
• N/A stands for “Not Applicable” or “Not Available.”

The key takeaway: the sport is very popular and extremely accessible for all ages, and demographically, it is growing significantly with the younger age groups, those under 24 years old. It is truly the fastest-growing sport.

Key Statistics on Growth By Region

SFIA: US regions with the largest number of Total participants were:

• South Atlantic (FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, WV, DC) = 1,087,000
• East North Central (WI, MI, IL, OH, IN) = 801,000
• Pacific (CA, OR, WA) = 780,000
• Mid-Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA, WV) = 675,000
• These four regions account for 69 % of players

It is not hard to see why investors are taking notice with interest growing in both indoor pickleball courts and outdoor courts. The concept of a pickleball club is also growing in popularity across all regions. I am familiar with many venues that not only have a tennis club, but also a pickleball club as well. This trend will continue to grow.

Key Statistics on Growth In Facilities

There were 10,749 pickleball courts across North America in 2022 with approximately 130 facilities being added per year, and yet there is still significant unmet demand due to the continued rapid growth. There are 18 states that currently have over 1000 pickleball courts.

State		Indoor	Outdoor	Places
California	741	709	2880	3589
Florida	622	646	2208	2854
Texas	522	949	1132	2081
Illinois	389	834	844	1678
Arizona	291	222	1441	1663
Michigan	385	759	866	1625
Ohio	397	748	869	1617
North Carolina	432	731	804	1535
New York	404	698	758	1456
Georgia	291	450	860	1310
Pennsylvania	358	565	704	1269
Virginia	339	567	647	1214
Massachusetts	273	566	618	1184
Colorado	247	451	641	1092
Minnesota	227	484	587	1071
Wisconsin	255	491	572	1063
Indiana	242	585	453	1038
Washington	261	440	571	1011

With the rapid growth, it is no wonder that there is a lot of interest in investing in this sport. Every day, you hear about a new pickleball facility or pickleball club being opened.

Pickleball courts, as are other investments tied to the sport, are becoming big business. Investments cover a broad number of opportunities.

With the ability to convert a tennis court to four pickleball courts, many tennis facilities are also modifying their club’s positioning to add pickleball courts.

Who Is Investing In Pickleball?

This Fortune Article is about Marc Lasroy, the billionaire co-founder of Avenue Capital Group. His view is that investing in new sports leagues like pickleball will provide greater returns than owning an NBA team.

He bought a Major League Pickleball (MLP) team in 2021, along with former tennis star James Blake for $100,000 before the League was launched. Today it is worth $10 million.

We have all heard of LeBron James and his investment group buying a Major League Pickleball team. The League is expanding from 12 to 24 teams. With the LeBron James announcement, the League has said that over 100 interested parties have contacted them to discuss investments.

What Are The 6 Ways You Can Invest In Pickleball?

Disclaimer: SportyEscapade is not promoting any of these investments.

With pickleball being the fastest-growing sport, how can you become part of the action? Here are six ways you can profit from investments in the sport. The industry is in its early stages. So opportunities are available and continue to come to the market.

1. Franchise a facility or pickleball club
2. Invest in an equipment company.
3. Invest in a tournament.
4. Invest in apps & training systems
5. Invest in a pro team.
6. Invest in a stock.

1. Franchise A Facility

Currently, there is a shortage of pickleball courts vs demand. In addition to outdoor courts, there is a growing demand for a quality indoor sports experience. Those in hot weather states want to play the sport in an indoor facility when temperatures make it difficult to play on outdoor courts.

Not only are players looking for a climate-controlled environment but also for facilities that are not impacted by weather-related interruptions.

I live in South Carolina, and we travel quite a bit to Florida, and an indoor facility is a real plus. There are also many states where snow and other weather-related issues make it difficult to play outside.

With this increased demand for pickleball courts and 130 pickleball facilities being added every year, franchising is a great opportunity for those who want a turnkey business.

Franchisee Options

Pickleball Kingdom

Pickleball Kingdom is a pickleball-specific facility located in Chandler, Arizona. It was founded in 2016 by a former professional tennis player Ace Rodrigues. The facility has 24 pickleball courts, a pro shop, a snack bar, and a mezzanine viewing area with TVs. Pickleball Kingdom offers a variety of services, including:

• Reservations: Players can reserve courts online or by calling the facility.
• Tournaments: Pickleball Kingdom hosts a variety of tournaments throughout the year, including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.
• Leagues: Pickleball Kingdom offers leagues for all skill levels.
• Drop-in/Open play: Players can drop in and play on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Lessons: Pickleball Kingdom offers lessons for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced players.
• Pro shop: It sells equipment, apparel, and accessories.
• Skill Development: Coaching and Clinics

The facility is well-maintained, with a climate-controlled environment with an excellent staff. Their mission is to provide a fun place not only to play but also to watch gameplay.

The company’s strategy is to grow through a franchising model and more company-owned facilities to meet the significant unmet demand for pickleball courts.

Key Statistics:

• The facility has over 2,000 members.
• It hosts over 100 tournaments per year.
• The pro shop sells over $1 million worth of pickleball equipment each year.

American Pickleball Association

The American Pickleball Association was founded in 2018 in Arvada, Colorado. They have been franchising since 2019. American Pickleball Association has a unique franchising model that is very affordable.

The model provides tools and support to get your pickleball business up and running. It is focused on helping you to create a League in an assigned territory.

Markets & Growth:

• APA franchise provides an opportunity to capitalize on the expanding interest in pickleball.
• The company’s strategy is to expand primarily through franchising its business model and tools.
• The franchise model works with franchisees to organize, promote, and develop the game in protected areas.
• Be your own boss and work from home with APA support.
• Proven system with training, tools, marketing, and operational support.
• Integrated systems to build a successful pickleball business.

The Picklr

The Picklr was founded in 2021 by Jorge Barragan and Jason Magana. The company’s first club location opened in Uintah, Utah, in January 2021. Since then,

The Picklr has expanded to six locations in Utah and one location in Colorado. They are in Logan, Uintah, Kaysville, Sandy, West Jordan, St. George, and Loveland.

They provide indoor pickleball facilities, equipment rentals, and event planning services.

The Picklr offers a variety of services for pickleball players of all skill levels. They have courts for singles and doubles and leagues and clinics for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. They also offer equipment rentals, so you don’t have to bring your own gear.

In addition to its indoor facilities, The Picklr also offers event planning services. They can help you plan corporate events, birthday parties, private tournaments, and family reunions. They can also provide food and beverage service for your event.

• Reservations: Players can reserve courts online or by calling the facility.
• Tournaments: The Picklr hosts a variety of tournaments throughout the year, including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.
• Leagues: The Picklr offers leagues for all skill levels.
• Drop-in/Open play: Players can drop in and play on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Lessons: The Picklr offers lessons for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced players.
• Pro shop: It sells equipment, apparel, and accessories.
• Skill Development: Coaching and Clinics for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players
• Equipment Rentals: No worries if you don’t have or forgot your equipment.

Key Statistics:

• They have over 1,000 members.
• They host over 100 events per month.
• They have over 100,000 square feet of indoor pickleball space.
• They offer a variety of equipment rentals, including paddles, balls, nets, and bags.

Ace Pickleball Club

Ace Pickleball Club is a franchise company that develops and operates indoor pickleball clubs. The company was founded in 2022 by a team of experienced entrepreneurs passionate about pickleball.

Ace Pickleball Club’s mission is to “provide the best possible pickleball experience for players of all skill levels.” Its purpose was to address the significant unmet demand for a quality indoor sports experience and facilities not prone to weather-related interruptions.

The company currently has two locations; its first club location is in Roswell, Georgia, and the second is in Albany, New York. Ace Pickleball Club plans to open additional locations in the near future.

Ace Pickleball Club offers a variety of services for pickleball players, including:

• Memberships: Ace Pickleball Club offers monthly and annual memberships. Memberships give you access to all of the club’s facilities and services.
• Court rentals: Ace Pickleball Club also offers court rentals for non-members.
• Equipment rentals: Ace Pickleball Club rents a variety of equipment, including paddles, balls, nets, and bags. Rentals are available for hourly or daily use.
• Leagues: Ace Pickleball Club offers a variety of leagues for players of all skill levels.
• Clinics: Ace Pickleball Club offers a variety of clinics for players of all skill levels.
• Tournaments: Ace Pickleball Club hosts a variety of tournaments throughout the year for beginners, intermediate players, and advanced players.

Key Statistics:

• They have over 500 members.
• They host over 50 events per month.
• They have over 50,000 square feet of indoor pickleball space.
• They offer a variety of equipment rentals, including paddles, balls, nets, and bags.

Swing Courts

Swing Courts is a facility located in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. The company was founded in 2018 by two pickleball enthusiasts, and it has quickly become one of the leading pickleball facilities in the region.

The company has six indoor pickleball courts and two outdoor tennis courts. The indoor courts are heated and air-conditioned, so they can be used year-round. The outdoor courts are floodlit to be used in the evening.

The Swing Courts franchise model is interesting because it focuses on smaller facilities, e.g., 2, 4, or 6 courts. This makes them unique in this space.

Swing Courts offer a variety of services, including:

• Reservations: Players can reserve courts online or by calling the facility.
• Tournaments: Swing hosts a variety throughout the year, including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.
• Drop-in/Open play: Players can drop in and play on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Lessons: Swing offers lessons for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced players.
• Pro shop: It sells pickleball equipment, apparel & shoes, grips & wraps, protective eyewear, and accessories. They host over 50 courtside demo paddles.
• Skill Development: Play Academy – coaching and clinics for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players
• Equipment Rentals: No worries if you don’t have or forgot your equipment; they have it

Key Statistics:

• They have over 500 members
• They hosted over 100 pickleball tournaments and social events
• They sold over $100,000 worth of pickleball equipment
• The average age of a Swing Courts member is 55 years old.
• 60% of Swing Courts members are women.
• 40% of Swing Courts members are new to pickleball.
• The most popular time to play pickleball at Swing Courts is in the evenings.

The Pickleball Club (Investment)

The Pickleball Club is a state-of-the-art pickleball facility located in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. The Lakewood Ranch Club was their first facility. The company was founded in 2023 by two pickleball enthusiasts, Mark and Susan Jones, who saw a growing demand for indoor pickleball courts in the area.

The Pickleball Club has quickly become one of the leading pickleball facilities in the region. The Lakewood Ranch Club has 12 indoor pickleball courts, two outdoor pickleball courts, and two bocce ball courts. The company’s clubs’ indoor courts are heated and air-conditioned, so they can be used year-round. At Lakewood Ranch, the outdoor courts are floodlit, so that you can use them even in the evening.

Their business model is different. Their growth model is an investment model and they are in the early stages of their capital raise. They are looking for accredited investors to make investments in the company. In addition, the Club’s positioning is a Member Only Club.

The company’s clubs are designed to be approximately 34,000 sq ft with 12 indoor pickleball courts, a pro shop, a coffee/juice bar, and locker room facilities. Food trucks will be used for special events and major activities. The Pickleball Club offers a variety of Services, including:

• Reservations: Members can reserve courts online or by calling the facility.
• Tournaments: The Pickleball Club hosts a variety throughout the year, including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.
• Drop-in/Open play: Members can drop in and play on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Lessons: The Pickleball Club offers lessons for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced players, with an accredited coaching staff.
• Pro shop:  It sells pickleball equipment, apparel & shoes, grips & wraps, protective eyewear, and accessories.
• Skill Development: Accredited coaching and clinics for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players
• Equipment Rentals: They have a full range of equipment rentals.

Their second facility is under development in Sarasota, Florida.

Real Dill Pickleball Club (investment)

The Real Dill Pickleball Club was founded in 2019 by Todd Reed and Aimwell Development Co. This real estate development company specializes in creating active lifestyle destinations. The company’s goal is to help facilitate the growth of pickleball by building dedicated clubs and serving communities of players.

The Real Dill Pickleball Club’s first location opened in Chicago in 2020. The club was a success, and the company quickly expanded to other markets, including St. Louis and Columbus, Ohio. The company is currently opening additional locations in other major cities across the United States.

Club-style pickleball entertainment destination with 8-12 pickleball courts, a pro shop, a restaurant and bar, a social lounge, and event space. They are open year round.

Their growth model is different. They are looking for accredited investors to invest in the company. Interested parties can also contact them if they believe their city would be a good place to have a facility.

The Real Dill Pickleball Club is a club-style pickleball entertainment destination that offers a variety of amenities, including:

• Reservations: Members can reserve online or by app and can match skill levels
• Tournaments: The Real Dill Pickleball Club hosts a variety throughout the year, including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.
• Drop-in/Open play: Members can drop in and play on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Lessons: The Real Dill Pickleball Club offers lessons for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced players, with an accredited coaching staff.
• Pro shop:  It sells pickleball equipment, apparel & shoes, grips & wraps, and all things related to pickleball play.
• Skill Development: Accredited coaching and clinics for beginners, intermediate,
• Group Health & Wellness Classes: Designed to support pickleball play

Cost To Franchise By Company

The table below is a summary of the cost to invest in pickleball in each of these companies.

	Franchise Fee	Investment Range	Marketing Fee	Royalty Fee
Pickleball Kingdom	$60,000	$967000 to $2.09M	2%	7%
American Pickleball Association	$25,000	$35,000	N/A	N/A
The Picklr	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ace Pickleball Club	$61,950	$910,455 to $1.29M	N/A	N/A
Swing Courts	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
The Pickleball Club	$100,000 Minimum Investment.  Must be an accredited investor
The Real Dill Pickleball Club	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

2. Invest In A Pro Team

Major League Pickleball

With new funding, the League expanded from 12 to 24 teams in 2023. We have seen high-profile investments from sports celebrities such as Tom Brady, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant. These investments are driving up the average price for a team.

What is Major League Pickleball (MLP)?

The MLP is the highest level of professional competition in pickleball.

Per the MLP: “The League consists of 24 geography-based teams split evenly into the MLP Premier Level and MLP Challenger Level. Premier Level is home to the top 48 players drafted. At the same time, the Challenger Level boasts the next crop of 48 draftees looking to ascend to the top of the League. The creation of MLP Premier Level and MLP Challenger Level will ensure the highest caliber of competition while providing a pathway and opportunities for the next generation of pro pickleball stars to break through!”

Major League Pickleball

Statistics:

• The MLP is a professional league founded in 2021. The League currently has 24 teams, each owned by a group of investors.
• The cost of investing in a pickleball pro team via MLP varies depending on the team. However, the average price is around $1 million.
• Investors in a pickleball pro team via MLP receive several benefits, including:
  • A share of the team’s profits
  • The opportunity to attend team events and meet the players
  • The chance to be involved in the team’s marketing and branding

3. Invest In A Tournament

There are a lot of tournaments that you can invest in via sponsorships, both locally, regionally, and nationally. The largest and most prestigious by far is the US Open Pickleball Championships, with over 3000 players and 35,000 in 2022.

These are great options if you want to improve brand recognition for your company.

There are three major tours.

The Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) Tour and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour were two professional tours founded in 2020. Both tours offer a variety of events for players of all skill levels, including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

The APP Tour has a larger prize purse than the PPA Tour, but the PPA Tour offers more opportunities for amateur players to compete.

Major League Pickleball (MLB) is a top-tier competitive league with a unique playing format and the largest prize ($5 million). It is by invitation. The MLB and the PPA Vibe merged, resulting in a well-funded pickleball league.

Two additional high-profile tournaments are:

• USA Pickleball National Championships
• The Tournament of Champions.

4. Invest In A Equipment Company

Many of the companies in pickleball are new companies that are growing with the sport. Most are privately owned.

These companies are investing in new paddle technology that is propelling the game to even more competitive levels. Paddles are advancing for beginners through to advanced players.

Company Ownership

• Selkirk Paddles – Privately Owned
• Paddletek – Privately Owned
• Engage Pickleball – Privately Owned
• ONIX acquired by Escalade Sports – Publicly traded (ESCA) NASDQC
• Franklin Sports – Privately Owned
• Wilson Sports – owned by Amersports (AMEAS) NASDQC, Helsinki Stock Exchange

Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta Paddle

Selkirk Amped Epic S2 Paddle

Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro V3 Paddle

5. Invest In Training Systems & Apps

There are countless training apps that you can invest in or even create yourself. These apps are great ways to:

• find courts and places to play
• provide training routines and advice
• establish and keep your ranking current
• help you keep score
• Visual Training Systems/Apps

This article, 12 Best Pickleball Apps is worth a look. It takes a look at some of the top apps, many of which are developed by companies looking for investments.

• Pickleup
• PicklePlay
• Pickleball Connect
• DUPR
• Matchup
• Pickleball Buddy
• USA Places2Play
• Pickleball FYI

This article on the 3 Best Visual Training Apps, The Future of PIckleball Performance, are companies looking for investment for growth. They are creating the future of training.

6. Invest In Stock (Publicly Traded)

Life Time Fitness

• Offer the largest network of courts at over 530* permanent courts across the US
• 74 more courts being added by January 2024
• Up to 1000 permanent courts by the end of 2024
• 300 Leagues weekly across 41 markets

*courts added weekly

Life Time Group Holdings (LTH) is a luxury gym chain with 156 locations. They are large facilities with 100,000+ square feet, including fitness, swimming pools, basketball courts, and pickleball courts.

It is publicly traded. ACCORDING TO MAULDIN ECONOMICS, the CEO of LTH has stated that they plan on adding 60,000-70,000 pickleball members.

They have over 530 dedicated pickleball courts and well as the ability to convert basketball courts when needed.

Summary

There are many options if you are looking for an opportunity to get in on the fastest growing sport, aka ‘the pickleball craze’, for all income levels and interests. These include franchising, tour sponsorships, owning stock, or investing in a pro team.

What I like about the franchising options is that they cover a range of offerings, from micro facilities (2-6 courts) to major large multicourt complexes that are becoming amenity-based destinations for many avid players.

So if you want to invest in pickleball, there is something for everybody.