Hartford Business Journal

14 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 27, 2023 Players volley on a court at Pickleball America in Stamford. The membership-based facility has 13 pickleball courts, with plans to double in size by the end of next year. PHOTO | DARIUS TEREPKA PHOTOGRAPHY Growing Demand Pickleball is becoming big business as new facilities sprout across CT Schipani said. A standard one-year membership costs $199 per person, but there are discounts for seniors, teachers, students and military personnel. There are also family membership plans. Pickleball America is venturing into in-kind barter partnerships with UConn, Nike, the Bridgeport Islanders, Master Athletics, Diadem and sponsors such as HSS Stamford Hospital group, Houlihan Lawrence, and BMW of Darien, among others, Schipani said. The business expects to be prof- itable in less than two years, the owners said. Regional destinations Camp Pickleball will be a $1.3 million investment built from the ground up on a vacant lot in Plain- ville. When completed, it will have 23,400 square feet of space, with both indoor and outdoor courts. Plainville Town Planner Mark DeVoe said it's an interesting concept that has received wide support. The facility will be an economic boost for Plainville, centrally located along the I-84 corridor and ideal for recreational use since it's near the Farmington Canal Heritage trail and other commercial sites, helping to draw in visitors from surrounding towns, DeVoe said. Founders and co-owners Trish and Matt Jenings both worked in the phar- macy industry, with Trish also working as a realtor. They part- nered with Nathan Rule, who worked as an actuary. They were introduced to pickle- ball more than a year ago and instantly saw the appeal. "It's the type of sport anyone can play, at any level," said Trish Jenings. Matt Jenings plays pickleball about four days a week, but it's harder to find court space in the winter, he said. Any courts in the area are often booked or not available throughout the day. Camp Pickleball will be accessible 24 hours a day, and owners expect some groups to book early morning court times By Hanna Snyder Gambini hgambini@hartfordbusiness.com T he growing popularity of pickleball is spurring private investment in new large, indoor recreational facilities across Connecticut. The owners of Camp Pickleball in Plainville have received approval to build a new 10-court, 24-hour facility for individual players, clubs and private events. In Stamford, owners recently debuted Pickleball America, one of the largest indoor pickleball and "sport- stainment" facilities in the U.S., located at the Stamford Town Center mall. A Middletown developer is proposing a 20-court, indoor-outdoor pickleball facility. Plans were also approved in Branford for a 21,760-square-foot indoor-outdoor pickleball facility to be called All World Pickle and Paddle. Pickleball facility operators said they are motivated by the growing popularity of the sport and demand for indoor court space. Their business models are similar to gyms and other health clubs — they rely on member- ships as a key revenue source. Pickleball's evolution Pickleball — a cross between ping- pong, badminton and tennis — was invented near Seattle in 1965. According to a 2022 Sports & Fitness Industry Association report, pickleball participation has increased by more than 158% in the past three years, with nearly 36 million players, and 9 million people having played in 2022. The average age of a pickleball player is 35, with the most partici- pants in the 25- to 34-year-old demo- graphic, according to the SFIA. The pickleball paddle market size was estimated at $152.8 million in 2021, and is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.7% through 2028. There are more than 10,000 places to play across the U.S., but a new report shows more than 25,000 new courts will be needed to meet current and future demand. Many municipalities are building pickleball courts in local parks, but private investors are also getting in on the action with new club-like facilities. Pickleball America and Camp Pick- leball officials said indoor court space is in high demand, especially during the winter months, as people play for competition, fitness or just fun. Pickleball America is using 80,000 square feet of former retail space in the Stamford Town Center mall, with 42,000 square feet of space on the first floor and 38,000 on the second. It offers 13 courts, with plans to add 14 more in 2024. The concept for the Pickleball America facility was created by a local Stamford team of Jay Ross, a real estate developer with Greenwich Realty Development LLC; Mia Schipani, chief sales and marketing officer for Pickleball America and broker with real estate firm Houlihan Lawrence; pickleball pro Joe Schipani; and Jay Waldner, of Wald- ner's furniture dealers. It's one of the largest flexible and multi- purpose venues in Fairfield County, Mia Schipani said, with a professional coworking space opened to members, and rooms available for private events, from corporate gatherings to parties or exhibitions. Owners expect more than 500,000 players annually, not including guests who attend social events. Pickleball America has several revenue streams, including member- ships, one-time player fees, special events costs, plus campaigns for naming opportunities, sponsorships and business partnerships. The company has a member- ship goal of 3,000 per year, but is already nearing the halfway mark, with 1,400 memberships purchased, A rendering of the $1.3 million Camp Pickleball facility planned in Plainville, which will feature indoor and outdoor courts. RENDERING | CONTRIBUTED Trish Jenings Matt Jenings Jay Ross Mia Schipani Jay Waldner Nathan Rule Joe Schipani

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