Pickleball Kingdom, the largest indoor pickleball operator in the U.S., becomes the first international indoor pickleball franchise company, signing a licensing deal with Franchise India Group, bringing Pickleball to the Middle East.
The agreement will see Pickleball Kingdoms opening in Dubai, India, and Abu Dhabi, with the rest of the UAE to follow.
Founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom, Ace Rodrigues, said, “This is a dream come true. Global expansion was part of the plan from day one, and now we’re here. Currently, we have 140-plus locations in the queue in the United States. With this partnership, we will double that number almost overnight. And this is just the beginning.”
Chairman of Franchise India Group, Gaurav Marya, added, “Pickleball is taking the world by storm, and Pickleball Kingdom is leading that charge. We’re excited to partner with them and head up this international expansion.”
According to YouGov and the Pickleball Kingdom, Pickleball has “grown at a rate of over 224 percent over the last three years, resulting in an estimated 36.5 million pickleball players in the U.S. alone. And, remarkably, 45 percent of them said they plan on playing more Pickleball over the next year.
Universally, the biggest complaint against Pickleball is that there aare not enough courts to meet the demand to play, said Pickleball Kingdom.
The company’s franchise model supports climate-controlled indoor facilities that offer lessons, leagues, tournaments, parties, team-building events, and refreshments. Members and visitors can reserve courts or participate in open play sessions.
Rob Streett, Pickleball Kingdom’s COO, stated, “Partnering with Franchise India Group gives us the immediate scale and reach to maximize our brand’s immediate entry and impact in the Middle East. We have been very methodical and intentional with our growth; this is just phase one of our expansion plan.”
CEO Ace Rodrigues concluded, “The time has come. This is our entry onto the international stage. We will be in every country in the world inside of five years. One of our value statements is, “Pickleball is good for you physically, socially and spiritually.” I can’t wait to hear “Welcome to the Kingdom!” spoken in every language on the planet! Teammates, get ready, the Kingdom is coming!”
Image courtesy Pickleball Kingdom
