fbpx
Connect with us

pickleball and sports exclusive

Dill Dinkers Pickleball Partners with Franchise Well to Architect National Growth Strategy

On National Pickleball Day Established Indoor Pickleball Concept Taps into Leading Global Franchise Consulting Firm for Innovative Franchising Launch

Published

on

Dill Dinkers Finksburg

COLUMBIA, Md. /PRNewswire/ — There’s a new, hotshot competitor in the pickleball world that’s about to take the nation by storm…

Dill Dinkers, a Maryland-based indoor pickleball concept and the first of its kind in the state, is quickly establishing a strong foothold, setting the stage for rapid franchise growth. In support of the brand’s development efforts, the company announced on National Pickleball Day a strategic partnership with Franchise Well, a leading franchise consulting practice led by reputable industry veteran Dr. Ben Litalien.

As the fastest-growing sport in the country, Dill Dinkers is at the forefront of the pickleball phenomenon.

As Chief Development Officer, Litalien is setting plans in place to launch Dill Dinkers’ franchise program this fall. “A testament to following a passion, Founders Will and Denise Richard’s appetite for playing pickleball that has equipped them with the aptitude to open an indoor facility is inspiring,” said Litalien. “And now, the opportunity to bring Dill Dinkers to communities across the country through a regional developer franchise offer is an exciting step in the journey.”

Since opening the original Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club last November in the Richard’s neighborhood of Columbia, Maryland, the site is now in the process of expanding to 12 courts. Alongside its flagship location, the brand has successfully opened two more Dill Dinkers Pickleball Clubs in Maryland and the fourth is anticipated to open in Rockville in the next few weeks. Most recently, the brand signed a lease for the Manassas Mall in Virginia which will be the first dedicated indoor pickleball facility in Prince William County.

“We started Dill Dinkers because of our unwavering passion for the sport and the community it has provided us. Now, through Franchise Well, Dr. Litalien is offering us unparalleled franchising experience, giving us the confidence to craft an effective growth strategy for Dill Dinkers,” said Co-Founder and CEO Will Richards, alongside his wife Denise, Co-Founder, and COO and brings his own franchise owner-operator experience to the table as a former Domino’s multi-unit franchisee. “It was crucial for us to ensure both owner-operators and investors could succeed, and we’ve developed an innovative approach to achieve that by offering both single-unit and regional developer growth paths. We are thrilled to be launching our franchise program in the coming weeks as we already have a long list of interested parties.”

As the fastest-growing sport in the country, Dill Dinkers is at the forefront of the pickleball phenomenon with its dedicated indoor facilities that allow players to enjoy year-round play. With a dedicated fanbase of pickleball players spanning all skill levels and coming from different parts of the country, Dill Dinkers aims to attract single and multi-unit franchise operators who are eager to capitalize on the pickleball craze by providing early entry to an ideal indoor offer.

“The world has gone crazy for pickleball, and the demand for an indoor experience is overwhelming,” said Litalien.  “Dill Dinkers has perfected its model to deliver an unbeatable environment—it’s climate-controlled, structured play at an affordable price. Being able to extend the success of the Dill Dinkers brand into a world-class franchise offering is a great honor. So many franchise concepts that come to market are simply ‘cookie cutter’ replicas of other franchises.  It was essential to develop a franchise strategy befitting of the great concept Will and Denise have created.”

Dill Dinkers Pickleball Clubs will operate in 15,000 square feet or more of indoor space, to provide space for six to 12 courts. The primary focus is on ensuring the functionality of the facilities by administering safety during play to achieve a seamless player experience. To accomplish this, each facility will have a dedicated Director of Pickleball responsible for providing training, instruction, and organizing tournaments, leagues, and special events. Delivering a quality professional experience, the brand boasts its special partnership with Joola, a leading manufacturer in paddle sports, equipping each facility with top-notch Joola nets, paddles and other high-quality products to enhance the overall player experience. “We are truly excited to be partnering with Dill Dinkers to support their national franchise expansion,” said Richard Lee, CEO of Joola, “Will and Denise have created an exceptional club concept dedicated to passionate pickleball players.”

Besides the single Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club franchise offer, the company will offer territories for development featuring nine revenue streams, a robust operating system, a proprietary reporting and management platform that is mobile-enabled, an intensive training system, and a turnkey marketing program for grand opening and membership development. Regional Developers must open and operate a flagship location in their territory, but can meet their development schedule by opening more units with independent franchisees opening in their territory. The company will compensate regional developers for soliciting qualified franchisees and for providing ongoing support for all the clubs in the territory. “The regional developer model is ideal for entrepreneurs that want to rapidly build the Dill Dinkers brand in a market, without the usual capital required by the area developer model,” said Litalien.

While spearheading the franchise development efforts, Franchise Well is working alongside other Dill Dinkers strategic partners including All Points Public Relations, the Strategic Factory, Joola, Morrow Hill Commercial Real Estate and Court Reserve.

For more information about Dill Dinkers, visit www.dilldinkers.com.

About Dill Dinkers Pickleball
Dill Dinkers Pickleball is the leading provider of dedicated indoor pickleball facilities on the east coast. With the announcement of their fifth facility, Dill Dinkers will offer 50 dedicated indoor pickleball courts in the DMV by early 2024. The Dill Dinkers brand is known for its fun, friendly, and welcoming environment where players of all ages and skill levels can play, socialize, and improve their skills. Each facility offers dedicated indoor courts with fences and outdoor surfaces, event space, a ball machine, and a state-of-the-art reservation system powered by Court Reserve. Dill Dinkers offers court reservations for members and visitors. They also offer clinics, private and semi-private lessons, leagues, business advertising, and rental for private events.

About Franchise Well
Franchise Well is a boutique consulting practice in strategic franchise development working with select clients with concepts that can benefit from effective use of using the franchise model.  Led by Dr Ben Litalien, a certified franchise executive who also teaches franchising at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and the Liniger Center on Franchising at the University of Denver. For more information on Franchise Well visit their website at www.franchisewell.com or contact laura@franchisewell.com.    

SOURCE Dill Dinkers

Stay up-to-date with the latest Pickleball news, and be the first to know when the newest episode of Sleeve's Senior Pickleball Report is released on YouTube and much more.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

News

Pickleball Kingdom: Conquering the World, One Court at a Time

Pickleball Kingdom sets its sights on global dominance, partnering with Franchise India Group to expand into the Middle East. #PickleballPower

Published

on


In 2024, the world of sports was on the cusp of witnessing a new era unfold. Pickleball, regarded as the fastest-growing sport in America, was set to take the global stage with Pickleball Kingdom at the helm. Breaking new ground, the premier indoor pickleball facility announced a groundbreaking partnership with Franchise India Group, paving the way for its expansion into the Middle East.

"Photo: A group of enthusiastic pickleball players in action at Pickleball Kingdom indoor facility."
Pickleball Kingdom in Arizona

The Global Ambition:
Ace Rodrigues, the Founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom, couldn’t contain his enthusiasm about this international expansion. His longstanding vision of taking the sport to a worldwide audience was finally becoming a reality. With 140 locations already in queue across the United States, the deal with Franchise India Group would double that number almost overnight.

A Strategic Partnership:
Franchise India Group Chairman, Gaurav Marya, shared in the excitement about partnering with Pickleball Kingdom. Recognizing the sport’s immense popularity and exponential growth, he hailed Pickleball Kingdom as the leader of the movement. Together, they would spearhead the international expansion of pickleball, promising to revolutionize the sport as we know it.

Franchise Opportunities:
Franchise India Group wasted no time in accepting applications from interested parties seeking to become franchisees of Pickleball Kingdom. They sought experienced entrepreneurs who understood the value of being pioneers in this global movement. With key stakeholders established for each territory, Pickleball Kingdom’s expansion would be well-supported.

Explosive Growth:
Pickleball had experienced an impressive growth rate of over 224% in the past three years, resulting in an astounding 36.5 million players in the United States alone. However, the demand for courts had outpaced supply. This is where Pickleball Kingdom’s franchise model created a winning solution. Their climate-controlled indoor facilities not only provided courts but also offered lessons, leagues, tournaments, parties, team-building events, and refreshments.

Strategic Expansion Plans:
Rob Streett, COO of Pickleball Kingdom, highlighted the strategic importance of partnering with Franchise India Group. The collaboration marked only the initial phase of the brand’s expansion plan, focusing on establishing a strong presence in the Middle East. This strategic move would ensure that the sport’s popularity and impact would be maximized in this new region.

Ambitions and Dreams:
Filled with enthusiasm and ambition, Ace Rodrigues declared that the time had come for pickleball to conquer the international stage. The goal was to establish a presence in every country within five years. As he looked ahead, he eagerly anticipated a world where the words “Welcome to the Kingdom!” would be uttered in every language spoken around the globe.


The stage was set, and the world was about to witness the rise of pickleball to unprecedented heights. With Pickleball Kingdom leading the charge and supported by a strategic partnership with Franchise India Group, pickleball was poised to become the first global powerhouse in the sport. From a grassroots phenomenon to an international sensation, pickleball has truly become the sport of choice for millions worldwide. The journey ahead promised excitement, growth, and the universal language of friendly competition: pickleball.

Continue Reading

pickleball and sports exclusive

Pickleball Kingdom Coming to Canada

Published

on

ONTARIO, Canada, April 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Pickleball Kingdom, the largest indoor pickleball franchise in the world continues its massive global expansion by coming to Canada. The United States based company confirmed its commitment to opening clubs in Canada, starting immediately with multiple clubs in Ontario.

Founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom, Ace Rodrigues, stated, “Canada gave us hockey and what a blessing that’s been. We’re excited to return the favor and export the fastest growing sport in the world, pickleball, to our neighbors in the north.”


Currently, Pickleball Kingdom has 140+ clubs built or being built out in the United States.  Additionally, early this week, the company announced its agreement with Franchise India Group to open clubs in Dubai, India, and Abu Dhabi, with the rest of the UAE to follow.

The Pickleball Kingdom experience extends beyond just courts. Members and visitors can participate in a variety of activities, including lessons, leagues, tournaments, and open play sessions. On-site refreshments fuel friendly competition, while a dedicated mobile app allows for easy court reservations and even captures video highlights for players to relive their favorite on-court moments.

COO of Pickleball Kingdom, Rob Streett, added, “Canada is such a beautiful country, but its weather is not ideal to play pickleball outdoors. We’re looking forward to offering Canadians a chance to learn and play the fastest growing sport in the world all year round.  Especially with their families.”

Pickleball Kingdom is now accepting inquiries from interested parties to get involved with the movement. They are seeking seasoned businesspeople who value the advantage that comes with being a first market mover. Those who desire to have a conversation with Pickleball Kingdom should submit their request through their website: www.pickleballkingdom.com/franchise.

Pickleball has seen a growth rate of over 224% over the last three years, resulting in an estimated 36.5M pickleball players in the United States alone. And remarkably, 45% of them say they plan on playing more pickleball over the next year, according to YouGov.

David Haynie, CPO of Pickleball Kingdom, commented, “Universally, the biggest complaint against pickleball is that there aren’t enough courts to meet the demand to play. Once our clubs are built throughout Canada, we will not only meet the existing needs but create an introductory path into this great sport for people who don’t currently play.”  

CEO Ace Rodrigues concluded, “We’ve had people from Canada visit Pickleball Kingdom ever since we’ve opened. And we have more than a few ‘snowbirds’ as members who are Canadian residents. This overwhelming demand expedited the decision to open up the country. Soon there will be Pickleball Kingdoms all over Canada!”

SOURCE Pickleball Kingdom

Continue Reading

pickleball and sports exclusive

PickleRage Expands Reach, Bringing the Thrill of Indoor Pickleball to Jacksonville

Published

on


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. /PRNewswire/ — PickleRage, a premier indoor pickleball club franchisor, announced its plans to open another corporate-operated club location in Jacksonville, Florida. The 30,209-square-foot club will give the community access to a state-of-the-art indoor facility where they can play pickleball year-round. PickleRage’s expansion into Jacksonville signifies another milestone in its ongoing mission to bring the joy of playing the game of pickleball to communities nationwide.

PickleRage’s Newest Corporate-Operated Club Coming to Jacksonville, Florida.

Located at Avenues Walk near I-95, I-295, and Philips Highway, PickleRage at Avenues Walk is set to redefine the local pickleball scene with its cutting-edge smart courts and premium amenities. With its plan to feature 9 joint-friendly CushionX courts, superior visibility and lighting, and perfect year-round temperature and humidity, the club promises unparalleled playing conditions for pickleball players of all ages and skill levels.

“We’re thrilled to expand our footprint in Jacksonville and introduce PickleRage to this vibrant community,” said Chris Daiss, vp of real estate and construction. “With our advanced facilities and commitment to excellence, we aim to become the go-to destination for pickleball enthusiasts of all levels.”

More than just a pickleball club, PickleRage at Avenues Walk aims to foster a lively community hub. The club will give players of all skill levels the opportunity to connect while improving their gameplay through lessons, tournaments, and leagues. Alongside its top-tier programming, PickleRage at Avenues Walk will feature a court-side lounge where players can unwind and socialize post-game.

Strategically situated alongside prominent retailers including Walmart, Dollar Tree, and Haverty’s at Philips Highway & Southside Blvd, the club benefits from high visibility and accessibility. It is adjacent to the 372-unit Bainbridge Avenues Walk multifamily project and lies in close proximity to the Avenues Mall.

PickleRage is one of America’s fastest growing indoor pickleball franchisors that gives novice & advanced players alike a place to play and connect. With world-class social, tournament, and instructional programing, you can see why pickleball players across the US are calling PickleRage clubs “Pickle-rageous!” With more than 500 locations planned over the next 5 years, PickleRage is set to take the pickleball-world by storm. For more information, visit: www.picklerage.com

SOURCE PickleRage

Continue Reading

Trending