Pickleball boom continues with three new Picklr openings
Pickleball continues to be the fastest-growing sport in America.
Participation grew 51.8% between 2022-23, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, and 223.5% in three years.
New pickleball clubs in Mount Prospect, Mundelein and Villa Park will help meet the surging demand.
“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, which is opening the new franchises of The Picklr in Villa Park and Mundelein.
A separate franchisee of The Picklr, North Shore Pickleball Group LLC, is handling the Mount Prospect location. Co-franchisee Ron Wieland still is ironing out the details, but plans for a grand opening from noon to 9 p.m. Sept. 28 at 211 W. Rand Road, in Randhurst Commons.
The Picklr Villa Park will open its eight courts Sept. 28 at 270 W. North Ave., in North Park Plaza.
The Picklr Mundelein will open Nov. 2 at 155 S. Lake St., in the Townline Square shopping center. It will feature eight fully fenced courts and one championship-sized court.
Sartori anticipates times of 10 a.m.-10 p.m. for the Villa Park and Mundelein openings, which allows visitors a free day of play. The Picklr generally is open 6 a.m.-midnight.
The model for The Picklr, based in Uintah, Utah, is to convert empty big box stores into year-round, professional-quality indoor pickleball facilities housing numerous courts and other amenities.
Lacking rain, heat and particularly wind is key to hitting the whiffleball-like spheres, Sartori said.
“We forgo all that with the elements and put it indoors and create an ideal playing environment,” he said.
WAYMOR Sports’ Naperville location that opened March 23, which Sartori said attracted about 1,200 people, was the first pickleball franchise in Illinois both for The Picklr and WAYMOR. It was a former Office Depot.
The Mount Prospect club, The Picklr’s largest location to date, will feature 14 regulation courts, including two championship courts, within 42,419 square feet of space in a former Fresh Thyme Market, Wieland said.
Starting with inexpensive trial memberships, customers pay for individual or family monthly or annual memberships that include unlimited open play and access to tournaments, leagues, free demonstrations, clinics and guest passes. Junior memberships also are available.
Member reciprocity is granted at all Picklr clubs nationwide. The goal is to open more than 300 clubs.
Interiors feature black walls to contrast with the yellow ball, and baffles above each court reduce the sound of ball hitting paddle up to 40%.
Wieland already has sold out of Mount Prospect’s monthly “founders” memberships of $109 and $119, and is selling $129 memberships until Sept. 20. As of Sept. 21 the unlimited monthly rate will be $139, locked in for life.
The opening from 12-9 p.m. will feature a disc jockey, a food truck, tours and lessons, prizes and giveaways. Wieland said he plans to remain open until 9 p.m. for open play that day.
The expansive size of The Picklr Mount Prospect has allowed Wieland to provide space for corporate or private events, a member’s lounge, separate locker rooms for men and women, a pro shop and other amenities. He also has a license to sell beer, wine and hard seltzers.
“We wanted to make it feel like you’re joining a proper club,” said Weiland, who already has two other Picklr locations in the works.
He said pickleball is a social sport that quickly becomes addictive. He’s preparing for the opening with that in mind.
“We’re expecting a big crowd here,” Wieland said.