Scottsdale Duo’s Big Play in Pickleball: Pickleball continues to surge in popularity across metro Phoenix and the nation, with Scottsdale’s Patrick Sullivan Jr. and Ashley Leroux at the forefront of this trend. Sullivan and Leroux, the founders of Jigsaw Health, have leveraged this growing interest by transforming part of their warehouse into a state-of-the-art pickleball venue. Their facility now features two indoor pickleball courts dedicated to the Arizona Pickleball League’s live matches.
The in-person games, featuring teams such as the Scottsdale Scorchers, Gilbert Gladiators, Peoria Pythons, Tempe Tornadoes, and Surprise Stingers, are played in front of around 150 spectators. For $65 to $75, attendees enjoy all-inclusive food and drink, with the unused court serving as a VIP lounge area. The league’s inaugural season was a local affair, but it has since attracted players from across the country and even from Japan.
A Vision Realized
The idea for “The Orchard” came to life during the COVID lockdown, driven by Sullivan, Leroux, and Sullivan’s cousin Cory Malkin, who heads the pickleball creative team. Their vision was to create a boutique stadium tailored for professional pickleball events.
“What if we were to build a boutique stadium, like a studio designed to host pro pickleball events?” – (Sullivan)
This transformation of a former storage facility into a premier pickleball venue shows the sport’s shift from a trend to a full-fledged lifestyle for millions.
The Orchard now stands as a testament to their dedication, featuring advanced facilities and amenities that enhance the pickleball experience for players and fans.
Documenting the Action
The Orchard is more than just a playing venue; it’s also the setting for “Breaking Pickleball: Rallies, Rivals and Rubber Chickens,” a six-part docuseries now available on Amazon Prime Video. The idea for the series was conceived early last year when league co-founders Sullivan and Leroux collaborated with director of photography Cole Uphaus.
The episodes follow the five teams through their 10-week inaugural season, highlighting their journey to the playoffs and offering an inside look at the personalities involved. Sullivan and Leroux, as executive producers, are excited about the series.
“As executive producers, when we started to see the footage of that, the raw cuts and edits, it was like ‘Yeah, we know we’ve got something in the can that’s going to be really good.'” – (Sullivan)
The docuseries is set to offer an engaging portrayal of the sport, making it appealing to pickleball enthusiasts and those new to the game.
“No matter if you love pickleball or you’ve never played, it’s a good human story. It’s a feel-good sports documentary, you know. Anyone can get into it. We learned so much about these people that we didn’t know.” – (Leroux)
The Rise of Pickleball
The explosive growth of pickleball is further highlighted by recent research from the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP). According to the APP, 48.3 million adult Americans played pickleball in the past year, representing nearly 19% of the total adult population. This marks a 35% increase from the 36.5 million reported in August 2022.
The updated study also notes that the average age of pickleball players is 34.8 years, reflecting the sport’s appeal across a broad age range. Sullivan and Leroux’s league has become a key player in this expansion, with their matches broadcast live and attracting a growing fanbase.
Kyle Koszuta’s Impact
One notable figure in the pickleball scene is Kyle Koszuta, a top player and YouTube instructor known as “That Pickleball Guy.” Koszuta, a former Division I college basketball player, has transitioned to pickleball, where he now thrives as a competitor and instructor. He has produced around 200 instructional videos for his approximately 137,000 subscribers. Koszuta plays for the Tempe Tornadoes and has also launched “That Pickleball School” to share his expertise. He likens the Tuesday Night Pickleball atmosphere at The Orchard to that of a major sports event.
“I get recognized a pretty good amount at pickleball venues, not really the grocery store. It’s a good workout. You have a reason to eat healthy and work out more, lift weights and stuff, because you want to get better.”
Koszuta highlights Phoenix’s prominence in the pickleball world, noting,
“Phoenix is one of the top three (pickleball communities) in the country. Quantity of courts and total amount of players.”
News in Brief: Scottsdale Duo’s Big Play in Pickleball
Scottsdale’s Patrick Sullivan Jr. and Ashley Leroux are capitalizing on the surge in pickleball with their venue, “The Orchard,” featuring live matches and the docuseries “Breaking Pickleball,” now on Amazon Prime Video. Their facility draws fans with all-inclusive experiences and has attracted players from across the U.S. and Japan.
The Association of Pickleball Professionals reports a 35% increase in players over the past year. Kyle Koszuta, a prominent player and YouTube instructor, underscores Phoenix’s status as a top pickleball community, reflecting the sport’s broad and growing appeal.
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