The new attraction will feature a practice area, pro shop, two community rooms, a locker room and showers, according to documents submitted to the city on Tuesday. There also will be a first-floor lounge and mezzanine lounge from which friends and family may watch games.
The new location is slated to open in April, Pickleball Kingdom spokesman Mitch Kistner told this news outlet.
Two other Pickleball Kingdom locations are also in the works for Ohio, including a 12-court “Cincinnati Mason” location set to open at 12130 Royal Point Drive in Symmes Twp. this April or May, he said.
The specific locations and opening dates for three Columbus-area Pickleball Kingdoms are yet to be determined, Kistner said.
The franchise touts itself as “the world’s largest indoor pickleball entity.” It offers opportunities for tournaments, leagues, clinics, and open play, according to the company’s website. Locations also offer equipment rental, including paddles and balls, for those who don’t have their own gear, according to the company.
Those with memberships may book courts in advance. Coaching is available to beginners for free.
Pickleball Kingdom also offers professional coaching and clinics, youth development programs and leagues and tournaments, plus event bookings for corporate events, birthdays and other special occasions.
Pickleball Kingdom first opened in Chandler, Arizona in May 2022. The company started reviewing franchisee applications in May 2023 and has awarded 100 franchisee clubs by November 2023. So far, more than 350 franchises have been awarded, according to the company’s Facebook page.
The franchise has seven clubs open in Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin, and Tennessee, Kistner said. Five more Pickleball Kingdom locations will be open by the end of March in New Jersey, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin, he said.
Additionally, the franchise is scheduled to open 40 more clubs by the end of this year, Kistner said. The list of planned clubs includes locations in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Massachusetts, with many more in development across the entire United States.
Pickleball was the fastest growing sport in the U.S. in 2023 for the third consecutive year, according to the most recent report by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
As of this month, the number of known courts had increased by 18,455 to 68,458 courts nationwide, according to USA Pickleball.
Numerous Dayton-area parks have added outdoor pickleball courts in the past few years. Some local tennis clubs have added indoor or outdoor pickleball to their existing tennis offerings.
A Dayton-area pickleball Facebook page has 2,900 members.
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