I’ve played at 40+ different pickleball venues in the past year. Private clubs, new dedicated centers, public courts, strip malls, community centers, you name it. Each time I play, I learn something new. This past week while visiting central Florida, I had my first “3-Fer”…..playing at 3 different spots in the same day. Not something my knees appreciated; but it was great fun.
Lesson #1: clearly pickleball is multi-generational.
Cady Park, Orlando, 6 courts, public, paddle rack, open play.
I actually played here twice: 6:30 pm and the next morning at 8:30 am. Both sessions were jam packed, especially impressive because it was 50 degrees in Orlando which is virtually arctic for Floridians (many had parkas). That said, there was a HUGE difference between the time slots. The evening was chock full of 20 and 30 somethings with a few 55+ folks (like me) sprinkled in. When I visited the same venue the next morning, the hair on the courts was grey and the scene was dramatically older. Play was solid at both, my only complaint would be wait time between games. Not enough courts!!! Pickleball, unlike many fitness businesses is unique in its ability to draw from multiple age demographics.
Lesson # 2: dedicated pickleball courts rock. They just do
Winter Park private club, 4 courts
Nestled in a cool, upscale part of Orlando, this traditional tennis club recently added 4 dedicated courts with a comfy viewing area in between. Dimensions were a bit tight, but wow is it nice to play on a nice surface where the lines and nets are permanent, every court is fenced to keep errant balls away, wind screens are in place and everything is pristine. Dedicated courts are on of the reasons people who have been playing for free will decide to pay.
Lesson # 3: quality pickleball club environment desperately needed.
Tampa Pickleball Club. Converted warehouse, 6 courts.
You drive through a gritty former flea market space over gritty pot-holed parking lots into a gritty converted warehouse that is jammed to the gills with 6 courts. Walking to courts at one end of the building requires interrupting play on the intervening courts. Inadequate seating is corrugated aluminum bleachers (not enough) and the “amenities” are 2 single bathrooms and a homemade paddle rack. Don’t get me wrong, the play was great. I went to an open play at 7:45 pm and it was jammed. 48 people playing on 6 courts, they did a good job of streamlining court turnover. BUT HEY…this is Tampa, Florida, a city of several million and this is one of the only dedicated, indoor, climate controlled places to play in the whole metro area…at least for now. 50 people (all ages) were willing to shell out $15 apiece for this experience, you have to imagine they would shell out that much or more for a place with proper fencing, walkways between courts, comfortable viewing areas, a place to put your clothes and maybe a place to have a coffee or beer. Just sayin’.
Pickleball Business Advisors is brothers Bill and John Pryor. We provide a variety of consulting services based on extensive experience in fitness business development, and research into the fast growing pickleball marketplace. To initiate a feasibility assessment for your pickleball club, or for other consulting, contact us so we can learn about your project.
Which was your favorite of the three and anything innovative to speed up play so you’re not waiting?
The private court was the coolest, but you had to come with a group so there was no open play. The only realistic way to streamline playing time and minimize waiting to is limit the number or participant in a session. Tampa Bay Pickleball did that (48 limit for 6 courts). The public courts do not typically have a way to do that so the amount of waiting can be low or high depending on how many show up. Not optimal.