Pickle Pad Pickleball Entertainment Venues: Pickleball’s growing popularity is driving businesses to create more than just places to play. The Pickle Pad, owned by Indoor Active Brands and backed by NRD Capital, is expanding into entertainment-style venues that combine courts with food, games, and social spaces.
A New Model for Pickleball
The Pickle Pad has signed four new franchise deals in New Jersey, Texas, Alabama, and Florida. This brings its total projects in development to seven. Instead of opening stand-alone clubs, each site will be part of a larger entertainment complex.
In Oak Ridge, New Jersey, The Pickle Pad will open with Birdie ParTee and Crave Social Eatery. In Port Arthur, Texas, it will join Birdie ParTee, Crave Social Eatery, and Altitude Trampoline Park. Hoover, Alabama, will see a similar mix, while Tampa, Florida, will follow the model after the brand’s first location in Tallahassee.
“Our growth strategy is rooted in collaboration and intentional site selection,” Indoor Active Brands president Chris Kuehn said. “These new signings demonstrate how powerful our model can be when paired with the right partners in the right communities. The Pickle Pad is more than a place to play — it’s a place to gather, celebrate and create lasting memories.”
Activities for All Ages
Each location will feature professional Cushion X pickleball courts, available for reservations or drop-in games. Guests can also use the PIQLZ simulator, sign up for lessons with certified coaches, or join league play.
For those who prefer social activities, venues will offer billiards, darts, foosball, dome hockey, table shuffleboard, NBA Hoops, cornhole, ladder ball, and oversized yard games.
More Expansions Planned
Three more locations are scheduled to open in late 2025 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; St. George, Utah; and Newport News, Virginia. Opening dates have not been announced, but The Pickle Pad expects to attract holiday crowds with its mix of sports and entertainment.
Competitors Enter the Space
The Pickle Pad is not alone in this trend. Chicken N Pickle, supported by NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, has grown to 13 locations nationwide. The company is now expanding into other entertainment and hospitality ventures while working with cities to develop public pickleball facilities.
“Growth isn’t just about footprint, it’s also about flexibility,” Chicken N Pickle CEO Brad Clarke said. “We are responding to what we are hearing: cities want partners, consumers want meaningful experiences and brands need to build with purpose.”
Ace Pickleball Club has also taken a unique approach. It partnered with DoorDash in a multi-year deal that makes the delivery company its official on-demand provider. Each Ace Pickleball Club will feature a DoorDash Delivery Zone where members can order groceries, sports gear, or supplements. DoorDash will also sponsor the Ace Pickleball Club Championship Series, which offers a $250,000 prize pool.
Pickleball Reaches Travel and Leisure
The sport is even shaping luxury travel. Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club in the Caribbean has added 11 pickleball courts, making it the largest pickleball resort in the region. The property will also launch retreats and themed clinics, such as “Pickle Palooza” and pickleball-and-yoga weekends.
Why It Matters
Pickleball’s rise is no longer just about building courts. Businesses are using the sport to create full-scale entertainment destinations. By blending recreation, dining, and social experiences, venues aim to draw not only athletes but also families and casual visitors.
News in Brief: Pickle Pad Pickleball Entertainment Venues
The Pickle Pad, backed by Indoor Active Brands, is expanding pickleball venues that combine courts, dining, and games. New locations are planned in New Jersey, Texas, Alabama, and Florida, with more to come. Competitors like Chicken N Pickle and Ace Pickleball Club are also growing, showing pickleball’s reach far beyond the court.
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