Growth Mode

Growth Mode: Pickleball and padel continue to surge across the U.S., signaling the sports’ evolution from fast-growing trends to permanent fixtures in the American recreational landscape. This week’s headlines showcase the scale of that expansion—from Caliber’s ambitious PURE Pickleball & Padel™ development in Scottsdale, set to become the world’s largest indoor facility, to The Picklr’s nationwide rollout with more than 500 clubs in motion. On the product side, J-Star marks its official entry into the pickleball market with USA Pickleball’s certification of its first in-house paddle, the Horizon, while fan engagement in professional padel reaches new levels through a pioneering partnership between Kalshi and the Pro Padel League at New York’s City’s Cup Final. Together, these developments illustrate how racquet sports are redefining fitness, real estate, and fandom alike.

• Coming Soon - The World’s Largest Indoor Pickleball and Padel Facility

• The Horizon, a new USAPA-approved paddle

• Watch the Squash U.S. Open Semifinals and Finals Live on Peacock

EXPANSION PLANS

World’s Largest Indoor Pickleball and Padel Facility Files for Building Permits

Caliber, a diversified real estate and digital asset management platform, announced that its joint venture development, PURE Pickleball & Padel™ (“PURE”), with plans to develop a 196,726-square-foot facility, which is expected to take about 15 months. PURE Pickleball & Padel™ is developing an 11+ acre site in the Riverwalk Development Project located in the Talking Stick Entertainment District, a 100-acre site adjacent to Scottsdale. PURE will be a world-class pickleball and padel facility and pro arena and seeks to claim the title of the largest indoor pickleball and padel facility in the world. The 196,726 square feet state-of-the-art facility will boast a 1,200-seat pro arena, 40 indoor pickleball courts, 8 indoor padel courts, sports performance and recovery fitness center by HonorHealth™, restaurant and bar by Wolfgang Puck Catering, pro shop, locker rooms and spa, special event spaces, rooftop patio and bar, meeting spaces, childcare and other amenities.  LEARN MORE

The Picklr Partners With NFC Contracting Group to Support Rapid Nationwide Expansion

The Picklr, North America’s fastest-growing indoor pickleball franchise, proudly announces a strategic partnership with NFC Contracting Group, a premier national general contractor with more than 30 years of experience in commercial construction. With more than 52 clubs already open and an additional 70 planned to launch in the next 12 months, The Picklr continues to accelerate nationwide growth to meet surging demand for high-quality indoor pickleball facilities. Partnering with NFC ensures that each new location is built to the highest standards of consistency, quality, and design, delivering premium experiences for players of all ages and skill levels. With more than 500 state-of-the-art clubs sold nationwide, The Picklr provides programs for beginners to pros, and a vibrant atmosphere. Membership to The Picklr includes access to all club locations nationwide, free court reservations, four clinics per month, and unlimited participation in leagues, competitive play/events and tournaments.

INDUSTRY NEWS

USA Pickleball Grants Official Approval and Certification for J-Star’s First In-House Pickleball Paddle, Horizon

 J-Star Holding Co., Ltd., a leading provider of innovative carbon fiber and composite solutions across a wide range of applications, including personal sports equipment, has received official approval from the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) for sanctioned play of its first company-owned brand pickleball paddle, Horizon. The Horizon paddle has successfully passed all USA Pickleball tests and has been added to the official list of USA Pickleball-certified paddles, now accessible to pickleball players nationwide. J-Star (through its YMA subsidiary) has manufactured racquets for several leading global brands. With the launch of Horizon, YMA enters the pickleball market under its own brand for the first time, marking a milestone in the company’s direct-to-consumer strategy.

Kalshi Partners with Pro Padel League to Power Fan Engagement at The City’s Cup Final in New York City Share

Kalshi, the first U.S. federally regulated prediction market, today announced a landmark partnership with the Pro Padel League (PPL) for its City’s Cup Final, taking place at the iconic Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City from October 16–19, 2025.

Through the partnership, Kalshi will offer fans the opportunity to wager on the outcome of each match of the City’s Cup Final. This innovative integration will encourage fans to engage more deeply with the competition, while providing a new way to experience the world’s fastest-growing racquet sport.

Watch the Squash U.S. Open Semifinals and Finals Live on Peacock

The 2025 Comcast Business U.S. Open Semifinals and Finals are one month away! For the first time ever, the semifinals and finals (Oct. 24-25) of this year’s tournament will be streamed live on Peacock in the United States. The tournament’s broadcast will expand its production coverage, with more camera angles and new technology elevating the overall presentation.

Laykold and RecycleBalls Recognized for Transforming Millions of Tennis Balls Into High-Performance Courts

Laykold®, the largest provider of tennis courts in the world and the Official Court Surface of the U.S. Open, is being recognized for a groundbreaking collaboration with RecycleBalls, a pioneering nonprofit dedicated to reducing tennis ball landfill waste through reuse and recycling. Every year, over 150 million tennis balls are used in the U.S., and nearly all go to waste after just a few hours of play. Through their exciting partnership, Laykold® and RecycleBalls have created a new recycled materials supply chain that will prevent 2.1 million tennis balls from ending up in landfills by transforming tennis waste into high-performance courts across North and South America. Their innovative alliance has resulted in the two companies being shortlisted for the 2025 Sport+ Positive Awards in the “Purpose-Led Partnership with a Non-Profit” category.