KAYSVILLE, Utah, April 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Picklr, North America’s fastest-growing indoor pickleball franchise, announced 276 total units sold to 36 unique direct franchising groups, which amounts to approximately 2,760 indoor courts, as they closed Q1 of 2024. More importantly, their extensively qualified franchising groups will be developing all of these units themselves over the next few years. In addition, 38 new clubs will open across the United States in 23 states, with 52 additional leases in final negotiations for openings in 2024 and 2025.

The beginning of 2024 also saw The Picklr announce a strategic partnership with Pickleball Inc., the parent company to the largest pickleball brands in the world, including the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour), Pickleball Central, Pickleball Brackets/Pickleball Tournaments, PickleballTV and Pickleball.com. The partnership aligns two of the largest brands in pickleball and will drive franchise growth and new memberships at Picklr locations. In February 2024, Drew Brees was named Brand Ambassador, along with being an investor, as well as Owner/Area Developer of 30 Picklr franchises in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. Drew Brees, Picklr franchise owners, and corporate leadership also appeared at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, where The Picklr was featured on Extra, discussing how important it is to bring more courts to pickleball players around the country.

As demand for premiere indoor pickleball facilities continues to grow globally, The Picklr’s leadership is in final discussions to bring franchises to an additional three continents while reinforcing their commitment to growing the game near corporate headquarters. Final master franchise agreements will be announced in Q2 for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union. To support the rapid growth across multiple sectors, The Picklr has elevated their Executive Leadership Team with the promotion of Kathryn Bullough from Senior Vice President of Marketing to Chief Marketing Officer and Chris Walker from VP of Real Estate to Chief Development Office, as well as Madison Walker from Director of Human Resources to VP of People. With these promotions, 50% of the Executive Leadership Team that supports franchisees are female. As the game of pickleball continues to evolve, The Picklr has applied for five provisional patents and has trademarked The Picklr globally and will continue to be the leader in premier indoor pickleball facilities and a global ambassador for the pickleball community and sport. The Picklr will also partner with the Utah Black Diamonds team to operate the first-ever home facility for a professional pickleball team, named the Utah Black Diamonds Pickleball Center, outside of Salt Lake City, Utah

“Q1 was a significant quarter with the franchisees delivering strong EBITDA results on average of 38% along with rapid 62% membership growth with the annual churn rate was less than 12%. These key metrics drive the success of our franchisees. All Picklr’s open with a minimum of 250 founder memberships, but year to date, the new clubs are opening in the 500-600 range, which makes the clubs’ cash flow positive from day one. The Picklr provides outstanding operations and marketing support for all franchisees, to ensure the financial success of existing and all new clubs,” Jonathan Fornaci, President and COO. “We are so pleased with our Q1 results, and as we push into Q2, we look forward to opening new clubs around the country.”

ABOUT THE PICKLR:
At The Picklr, pickleball is more than just a sport; it’s a lifestyle that fosters community, competition, and fun. With over 275 planned state-of-the-art facilities, with professional coaching, clinics, unlimited open play membership model and a vibrant atmosphere, The Picklr offers an unparalleled pickleball experience for players of all skill levels. All locations offer state-of-the-art professional-grade outdoor surfacing, onsite snacks and drinks, and access to free leagues, tournaments, and clinics. Follow The Picklr on Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok for news on locations and contests, or visit https://thepicklr.com/franchise/to learn more about owning a franchise.

SOURCE The Picklr

Exciting news for Hyundai enthusiasts! The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2024 Hyundai Kona have been named winners of the prestigious Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX award by WardsAuto. Making Hyundai the only manufacturer with two vehicles on the list.

The Wards 10 Best Interiors and UX competition focuses on identifying driver interfaces that are user-friendly, navigation systems that are easy to program, and smartphone integration that allows for safe access to various features while on the road. This award evaluates the overall quality and comfort of the vehicles’ interiors, as well as the user-friendliness of driver-assist technologies.

This isn’t the first time Hyundai has been recognized by WardsAuto. Last year, the Hyundai Palisade took home an award, cementing the brand’s commitment to creating innovative and desirable vehicle experiences.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona stands out for its dual 12.3-inch panoramic display screens, offering a versatile interior that is both visually appealing and technologically advanced. With a price point of $35,000, the Kona provides great value for its modernist aesthetic and abundance of features.

The 3-row Santa Fe, on the other hand, impresses with its spacious interior, perfect for urban and outdoor activities. The Calligraphy grade’s ivory and olive-green geometric interior sets a new standard for vehicle interior design, revolutionizing the industry.

Wards judge, Christie Schweinsberg, praises both vehicles for their exceptional features and value. The Kona’s affordability makes it an accessible choice for many, while the Santa Fe’s thoughtful additions such as a drawer for second-row passengers and a UV-C sterilization tray for phones further elevate its appeal.

The evaluations for the 2024 Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX competition took place during winter and early spring, giving judges ample time to experience the vehicles in their daily driving routines. Metrics such as design and aesthetics, comfort, materials, connectivity, and infotainment are taken into consideration, along with advanced driver-assist system content and overall value.

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To celebrate the achievement, the 2024 Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX awards ceremony will take place on June 6, 2024, during the AutoTech: Detroit Conference. This event promises to be a showcase of innovation and excellence in the automotive industry.

Hyundai continues to listen to its customers and push the boundaries of vehicle design and technology. With these awards, the brand proves its commitment to providing innovative, intuitive, and desirable vehicle experiences.

So if you’re in the market for a Hyundai, the 2024 Santa Fe and Kona should be at the top of your list. Not only do they offer exceptional interiors and user experiences, but they also represent the cutting-edge innovations that Hyundai stands for.

About Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company’s Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (in development in Georgia), and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai’s 835 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a recent economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

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To access additional content about cars and related topics, please explore the Automotive category on STM Daily News. https://stmdailynews.com/category/consumer-corner/automotive/

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Exciting news from the realm of space exploration! NASA and its incredible international partners are gearing up for an eventful departure as the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft bids farewell to the International Space Station on Sunday, April 28 (weather permitting). This pivotal moment will mark the return of scientific research samples and hardware, acquired during the spacecraft’s stay at the orbiting laboratory. Enthusiastically, NASA is providing extensive coverage of the undocking and departure, ensuring that we don’t miss a moment of this extraordinary event.

Undocking and Departure:
NASA will commence its coverage of the undocking and departure at 12:45 p.m. EDT, accessible through various means such as NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. If you’re curious about experiencing the event firsthand, worry not – NASA offers streaming options on multiple platforms, including social media.

Dragon will gracefully undock from the zenith port of the Harmony module, promptly at 1:05 p.m., after receiving ground control commands from SpaceX in Hawthorne, California. Following undocking, it will steadily propel itself away from the International Space Station, creating a safe distance between them.

Return to Earth:
Upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, the Dragon spacecraft will elegantly splash down off the coast of Florida, with the ultimate goal of delivering more than 4,100 pounds of supplies and scientific experiments back to home soil. While NASA will not be broadcasting the splashdown, you can stay tuned to the agency’s space station blog for continuous updates and fascinating insights.

Scientific Endeavors:
Among the plethora of captivating studies making their way back to Earth, one standout is the Flawless Space Fibers-1 experiment. This investigation has achieved remarkable milestones, producing over seven miles of optical fiber during its stay on the space station. By exploring new hardware and manufacturing processes for high-quality optical fibers in space, it shattered previous records, drawing more than half a mile of fiber in just one day.

Another striking study travelling aboard Dragon is GEARS (Genomic Enumeration of Antibiotic Resistance in Space), which surveys the space station for antibiotic-resistant organisms. By analyzing genetic data, scientists aim to understand how these bacteria adapt to space, providing insights to protect future astronauts on long-duration missions.

MISSE-18 (Materials International Space Station Experiment-18-NASA) is yet another exciting experiment coming back to Earth. It examines the performance and durability of materials and components when exposed to the harsh environment of space. Coatings, quantum dots, a lunar regolith simulant composite, and other materials are studied to enhance our understanding of their behavior in space conditions.

Additionally, the Immune Cell Activation experiment, sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA), promises fascinating results. It investigates whether microgravity affects the incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles into immune and melanoma cells. The outcomes of this research could contribute to the development of novel therapeutics targeting central nervous system diseases and skin cancers such as melanoma.

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Future Implications:
These returning experiments represent only a fraction of the hundreds of ongoing investigations aboard the International Space Station. Ranging across biology and biotechnology, physical sciences, and Earth and space science, these studies are crucial for astronaut health during long-duration space travel. They also serve as critical stepping stones towards NASA’s Artemis campaign, ensuring the advancement of human and robotic exploration beyond low Earth orbit – ultimately leading us to the Moon and Mars.

The impending departure of the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft from the International Space Station promises an exhilarating journey back to Earth. With an array of scientific research samples and hardware aboard, the Dragon’s return holds tremendous scientific significance. Thanks to NASA’s dedicated coverage, you can witness this extraordinary milestone through various platforms. As we eagerly await the spacecraft’s splashdown off Florida’s coast, let’s celebrate the accomplishments and look forward to the groundbreaking discoveries that lie ahead.

Get breaking news, images and features from the space station on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Learn more about the International Space Station at:

https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station

https://stmdailynews.com/category/science

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