Demand driving pickleball expansion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/12/2024 (270 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The pickleball boom isn’t dying anytime soon.

That’s why The Picklr, an American pickleball chain, has updated its Canadian expansion plans to build two additional indoor facilities in Manitoba by 2030.

Partnered with Winnipeg-based TPC Development Corp., The Picklr previously committed to opening 65 facilities across Canada, including two in Winnipeg, in the next five years. Now, those plans include three spaces in the provincial capital and another in Brandon.

“It’s just based on demand. Our goal is one six-to-eight-court facility for every 200,000 people. So that’s where, for Winnipeg, what seems like would be a viable option, as well,” Mark Arndt, chief growth officer for The Picklr Canada, told the Free Press Tuesday.

“For Winnipeg, for sure we’d like to start with the two, see how those respond, and then take it to the third. And, I mean, we’re confident that there will be a third in Winnipeg and then Brandon would be a target area, as well.”

Since its expansion plans became public in October, The Picklr has worked to sell its franchises to entrepreneurs across the country. Nothing has been built yet, but Arndt said the first chain is projected to open in Kitchener, Ont., next summer, with facilities in Mississauga and Vancouver close behind.

There are more than 400 Picklr locations across nearly every state in the U.S. Most facilities house eight to 10 courts, and larger ones can hold 12 to 15.

The initial Canadian franchises will reside in converted buildings such as empty mall anchors, vacant gyms and industrial warehouses. Arndt confirmed The Picklr has shortlisted three options in Winnipeg and renovations will take three to four months to complete once a space is confirmed.

It is hopeful to open a Winnipeg location in time for next year’s indoor season, which typically begins sometime in September or October.

“Just look outside right now. There are really no proper indoor facilities that are in Winnipeg or Manitoba, and our indoor season is a very long season,” Arndt said about what makes Winnipeg an attractive location for three facilities. “And then the overall interest and the growth potential for the sport and what’s happening on a worldwide basis — especially in the U.S. — and we’re following the U.S business model that really tells us that in similar climates to Winnipeg, that’s what the ratio is as far as facilities being built.”

A public indoor facility dedicated to pickleball does not exist in Manitoba yet, although, the Pickleball Club of Winnipeg will open the first in Headingley early next year.

The outdoor courts across the city are being used daily throughout the summer, and while there is a thirst to play year-round, there is limited availability for indoor court times, especially during the colder months. Pickleball Manitoba president Ted Fardoe said the growing demand has made indoor options a necessity, especially in the Prairies.

“You only get four months of real good weather here to play outdoors. So there’s an eight-month window where you’re looking to play anywhere you can indoors, so having dedicated facilities, I don’t think there will be any problems filling these facilities and keeping them busy,” Fardoe said.

“Our community is growing at such a pace, and there’s such a demand for places to pay at this point in time, that people aren’t getting their preferred times. They’re playing where there is availability to play at this point.”

Pickleball’s participation has surged in recent years owing to a heightened interest among younger players. An estimated 1.37 million people play in Canada, according to a survey conducted by the Sport Information Resource Centre in January of 2023. That survey also concluded the growth is coming from younger adults, particularly those aged 18 to 34.

Pickleball Manitoba’s membership has grown to nearly 2,000 members, but that number does not come close to representing the actual number of players across the province, Fardoe said previously.

The most serious players have expressed their desire to play as much as 16 hours per week during the indoor season, he said.

“The bottom line is this: if they come in and they build two facilities, whether they got four courts or eight courts, the pickleball community will take anything they got. And they’ll fill them up… they’ll be busy all day long,” Fardoe said. “Guaranteed.”

The Canadian Picklr locations will almost exclusively house indoor courts, but Arndt said outdoor court options will be explored if there is enough available land.

Each Picklr facility will be available to the public on a membership basis. Pricing is still being determined but options will be tier-based, with several options available.

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca