SOUTH FLORIDA, THE MECCA OF PADDLE SPORTS

South Florida is rapidly establishing itself as the Mecca of paddle sports, with major developments in both pickleball and padel. The newly opened Fort in Fort Lauderdale—described as the "Disney World of pickleball"—is a premier 10-acre facility featuring 43 courts, the world’s first dedicated pickleball stadium, and upcoming amenities like a lakeside restaurant and recovery center. It has already secured a partnership with the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) for two annual national tour stops.

Meanwhile, Miami will host the U.S. debut of the Premier Padel tour with a P1-level tournament, just below the majors in importance—comparable to the Miami Open in tennis. The tournament will take place March 18-23 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, further solidifying Florida’s status as a padel hotspot, home to nearly half of the nation's courts.

INDUSTRY NEWS
The latest business headlines

• Boast, the Irreverent Cult Tennis Brand, Was the Official Apparel Partner of Desert Smash 2025 - For the event, BOAST designed the apparel exclusively for the exhibition ball kids and event staff, including premium performance polos and shorts that enabled them to stay comfortable performing their on-court and off-court duties. BOAST also dressed the Desert Smash event Emcee, Nick McCarvel, and celebrity guests, including PINK, DJ LikeMike, Sam Asghari, Cheri Oteri, JonLovitz, and Kirk Fox.

• PickleRage Secures Nine New Franchise Agreements, Accelerating National Growth  – By combining cutting-edge technology with a community-focused atmosphere, PickleRage is redefining the indoor pickleball experience and solidifying its position as an industry leader. With this latest round of franchise agreements, the brand is making its debut in North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Texas, further expanding its national presence.

• WTA and PIF created the PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program, the first-ever paid maternity leave for professional tennis players -  The pioneering initiative, supported by PIF and championed by the WTA Players’ Council, marks the first time in women’s sports history that comprehensive maternity benefits are available to independent, self-employed athletes.

• Tennis Channel, United Pickleball Association launch PickleballTV App -  Available to all iOS and Android users, the Pickleballtv app is the sport’s most comprehensive media destination, with thousands of hours of live and on-demand matches from the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP). Fans can purchase the Pickleballtv app for with a free, 30-day trial period.