The Picklr Expands in Illinois: Pickleball remains the fastest-growing sport in America, with participation soaring by 51.8% between 2022 and 2023, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Over the past three years, the sport has seen an unprecedented 223.5% growth in participation. To meet this surging demand, three new Picklr locations are opening in Mount Prospect, Mundelein, and Villa Park.
“We don’t see any signs of it slowing. There’s a massive court shortage, and that’s where we come in,” said Jay Sartori, co-founder of WAYMOR Sports, the group responsible for opening the new franchises in Villa Park and Mundelein.
Expanding to New Communities
Each of the new facilities will help ease the court shortage and provide high-quality, indoor pickleball experiences. The Villa Park Picklr will debut on September 28, boasting eight courts at 270 W. North Ave. The Mundelein location is slated to open on November 2 at 155 S. Lake St., featuring eight fully fenced courts and a championship court.
The Mount Prospect location, managed by North Shore Pickleball Group LLC, is also set to open on September 28. Co-franchisee Ron Wieland mentioned that the grand opening at 211 W. Rand Road will run from noon to 9 p.m., complete with a DJ, food truck, and lessons. Wieland’s Picklr club will be the largest, with 14 regulation courts spanning 42,419 square feet.
The Picklr’s Winning Formula
The Picklr’s model of converting empty big-box stores into professional-grade, indoor pickleball facilities continues to prove successful. “We forgo all that with the elements and put it indoors and create an ideal playing environment,” Sartori said, highlighting the advantages of eliminating external factors like wind and heat. This strategy allows for optimal play conditions year-round.
The new Illinois locations follow the success of WAYMOR’s Naperville Picklr, which opened in March and attracted 1,200 visitors on its first day. Sartori anticipates similar success at the Villa Park and Mundelein clubs, which will offer free play from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on their respective opening days.
Memberships and Amenities
The Picklr is known for its flexible membership options, offering trial memberships and unlimited access to open play, tournaments, leagues, and clinics. “We wanted to make it feel like you’re joining a proper club,” Wieland said of the Mount Prospect location, which will feature a member’s lounge, locker rooms, a pro shop, and even a license to sell beer, wine, and hard seltzers.
Wieland’s Mount Prospect club has already sold out of its founder memberships and is offering unlimited monthly memberships starting at $139 as of September 21. The club’s spacious design allows for corporate events and private gatherings, adding a social element to the sport, which Wieland believes will drive the location’s popularity.
“We’re expecting a big crowd here.” – (Wieland)
News in Brief: The Picklr Expands in Illinois
Pickleball continues to surge in popularity, with three new Picklr locations opening in Illinois. The Mount Prospect, Villa Park, and Mundelein clubs will provide year-round, indoor pickleball facilities.
Villa Park opens on September 28, Mundelein follows on November 2, and Mount Prospect, the largest of the three with 14 courts, also opens on September 28. Membership options offer unlimited play, tournaments, and more. The Picklr aims to expand further, with plans to open 300 locations across the country.
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