Sports
Jordan Spieth Invests in Invited and Becomes a Strategic Partner and Brand Ambassador
Golf superstar will lend his expertise to the world’s largest owner and operator of membership clubs
Golf superstar will lend his expertise to the world’s largest owner and operator of membership clubs
DALLAS /PRNewswire/ — Invited and three-time major winner Jordan Spieth announced a strategic partnership in which Invited receives an investment from Spieth, and Spieth signs on as a strategic advisor and brand ambassador of the company.
Invited and the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation will also partner on a series of charitable and community efforts benefitting youth organizations, American veterans and military families. Additionally, Invited will host a series of fundraising events at Invited clubs across numerous states and create further member programming in order to raise funds for Spieth’s Foundation.
“I was introduced to the game and grew up playing at Invited’s first club – Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas. I’ve witnessed first-hand how Invited’ clubs unite people and build relationships that reach well beyond its fairways, greens, and courts,” said Spieth. “I’m excited to work with the team at Invited to help grow the company and leverage their unmatched platform to create an even greater impact in our communities. The partnership makes perfect sense as golf continues to expand in exciting ways, reaching new audiences while growing the impact on those who need a helping hand.”
“Since his incredible rise from Junior golf into the professional game, Jordan Spieth’s achievements as a player are astonishing. And while he has already accomplished more on the course than most will in a career, his focus on philanthropy and altruism will leave an even greater impact than any trophies he lifts,” said Invited CEO David Pillsbury. “Our clubs play an integral role in the lives of communities and our members where they play, celebrate, and build life-long friendships. We take great pride in our clubs and the ways in which they connect social, charitable, family and business elements of a community. We see an incredible opportunity to have Jordan’s investment and expertise join in the momentum our clubs have as pillars and hubs in the communities we call home.”
Invited, formerly ClubCorp, is a lifestyle hospitality brand founded in 1957 on the traditions and values of acceptance. With these founding principles in mind, the company announced a full rebrand in April of this year with the name and fundamental belief that everyone is “Invited”. The new name conveyed the appropriate hospitality emotion and appeal to match the lifestyle and hospitality service that the company and its members and guests have become accustomed to.
Invited extends its unique brand of hospitality across four lines of business:
Golf & Country Clubs – 161 owned and operated golf and country clubs provide extraordinary experiences, world-class amenities and a vibrant social life with something for everyone. Offerings at the clubs include 205 golf courses and more than 1,000 tennis and pickleball courts nationwide, along with elevated dining, social and competitive events, fitness centers, spas, pools with resort-style amenities, and premier event venues. Professional tournaments grace the courses each year, including the Invited Celebrity Classic at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas; AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas; Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio; and the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Country Club in Houston, Texas.
City Clubs – 32 city and sports clubs bring together professionals from diverse backgrounds with the purpose of fostering true connections, building future leaders and creating outstanding experiences. Located in downtown centers and business districts, the clubs offer an array of amenities that include casual workspaces, dining venues, private boardrooms and event rooms, indoor golf lounges, fitness centers, and indoor racquet courts and pools.
Stadium Clubs – Seven stadium clubs, located inside prominent college football stadiums, offer a private club setting with premium hospitality. Alumni, faculty, fans and the community come together to celebrate the university and sports team, get together for business or meetings, and entertain. Members and guests can enjoy exceptional dining, a social calendar filled with game day fun and other events, private meeting and dining rooms, and casual workspaces.
BigShots Golf – Six locations around the country deliver a tech-driven entertainment and culinary experience welcoming every level of player, with state-of-the-art virtual games and courses, sports bars, outdoor patios, mini golf, private event spaces and climate-controlled tee boxes. Live play capabilities allow play with friends in other cities. Golf lounges at clubs around the country recreate the experience on a smaller scale.
About The Jordan Spieth Family Foundation
The Jordan Spieth Family Foundation is committed to our mission of using our platform to lend time, help grow awareness and grant financial support for four philanthropic pillars that mean a great deal to the Spieth family: individuals with special needs, junior golf, military families and veterans and pediatric cancer. Through annual community partnerships, we look for opportunities that directly impact our mission families and make strides toward change.
About Invited (formerly ClubCorp)
Since its founding in 1957, Dallas-based Invited has operated with the mission of Building Relationships and Enriching Lives®. The leading owner-operator of private golf and country clubs, city, and stadium clubs in North America, Invited is relentless in its pursuit of providing extraordinary experiences, meaningful connections, shared passions, and memorable moments for its more than 400,000 members. The company’s mission is supported by 20,000 peak-season employees and a portfolio of 200 owned or operated golf and country clubs, city clubs, sports clubs, stadium clubs in 29 states, and seven BigShots Golf locations. Invited creates communities and a lifestyle through its championship golf courses, workspaces, handcrafted cuisine, resort-style pools, tennis and pickleball facilities, golf lounges, fitness centers, and pioneering programming.
Marquee Invited properties include: Firestone Country Club (Akron, Ohio); Mission Hills Country Club (Rancho Mirage, California); The Woodlands Country Club (Houston, Texas); and The Metropolitan Club (Chicago, Illinois).
SOURCE INVITED
ATLANTA /PRNewswire/ — Pickleball Kingdom, the premier brand in indoor pickleball, is thrilled to announce its expansion into Atlanta, Georgia. Led by passionate sports enthusiasts Nithi and Usha Anand, this move aims to bring the joy of pickleball to the vibrant community of Atlanta, catering to individuals of all ages and skill levels.
“We’re thrilled to bring Pickleball Kingdom to Atlanta with our indoor franchise locations,” stated Ace Rodrigues, Founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom. “Atlanta has a vibrant community, and we know the Anand family are the perfect ambassador for the sport.”
Pickleball Kingdom, known for its commitment to providing top-notch indoor facilities for pickleball players, is excited to introduce its renowned brand to Atlanta. With a focus on holistic health and the belief that movement is medicine, Nithi and Usha Anand are dedicated to creating a pickleball community where leading a healthy lifestyle is not only encouraged but also enjoyable for everyone.
“We are delighted to bring Pickleball Kingdom to Atlanta and contribute to the development of a thriving pickleball community in this area,” said Nithi and Usha Anand, franchise leaders of Pickleball Kingdom in Atlanta. “Our vision is to provide a welcoming space where individuals can engage in this exciting sport, improve their fitness, and connect with others who share a passion for pickleball.”
Pickleball, a paddle sport blending elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years. Recognizing the growing demand for accessible indoor facilities, Pickleball Kingdom is committed to offering state-of-the-art courts equipped with technology to enhance the playing experience for enthusiasts in Atlanta.
Calling Franchisees
The expansion into Atlanta will offer individuals the opportunity to experience the excitement of pickleball in a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. Pickleball Kingdom invites aspiring entrepreneurs who share their passion for promoting active lifestyles to join them in this exciting venture as franchise partners.
“Similar to the rest of the country, the high demand for indoor pickleball in Atlanta metro is evident,” emphasized Rob Streett, COO of Pickleball Kingdom. “We are on the lookout for more ambitious partners who recognize the vast opportunities in the indoor pickleball industry. If you’re interested in seizing this opportunity, let’s connect.”
www.pickleballkingdom.com/franchise
About Pickleball Kingdom:
Pickleball Kingdom is the largest indoor pickleball entity in the world. They are dedicated to providing exceptional facilities and fostering vibrant pickleball communities across the country. With a focus on promoting active lifestyles and building strong connections within communities, Pickleball Kingdom is committed to making pickleball accessible to players of all ages and skill levels.
SOURCE Pickleball Kingdom Franchising
pickleball and sports exclusive
USTA MID-ATLANTIC FOUNDATION APPLAUDS APPROVAL OF ZONING APPLICATION FOR VILLAGE AT CLEAR SPRINGS
Decision and $2.5 million grant award are critical next steps for USTA Mid-Atlantic Tennis Campus
LEESBURG, Va. /PRNewswire/ — The USTA Mid-Atlantic Tennis Campus – a planned best-in-class hub for health, wellness and community-building through sport – is now a critical step closer with the decision by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors to approve the zoning application for the Village at Clear Springs. A key amenity within the Village at Clear Springs, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Tennis Campus will offer a transformative upgrade of indoor and outdoor courts and resources that will make it a year-round regional hub for economic growth and engaging environments that positively enhance lives.
In addition to the approval, the USTA has pledged $2.5 million in grant funding to the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation to invest in this critical, community-based infrastructure and support the mission to grow tennis.
“USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation celebrates the approval of the zoning application for the Village at Clear Springs,” said Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro, Chief Executive Officer, USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation. “This important decision along with an unprecedented funding commitment are crucial steps forward that allow us to succeed in our ambitious vision to increase access to tennis for all people providing physical, social and emotional health benefits for today’s youth and adults of all ages.”
The USTA Mid-Atlantic Tennis Campus is planned to be open to the public and will feature 21 outdoor tennis courts, including a stadium center court, 10 indoor tennis courts, 8 outdoor pickleball courts and 12 indoor pickleball courts which will also be used for youth tennis, cardio tennis and beginner tennis instruction for adults. The tennis campus will feature space for fitness, wellness programs, community gatherings and large-scale competitions and events. It will serve as an accessible hub for health, education and fun, while being an important economic engine estimated to generate $8.5 million annually in economic impact.
“One of the most important aspects of the tennis campus is the ability to extend into the community and activate the higher benefits of sport among those who may be under-resourced,” said Beth Twomey, Chief Operating Officer, USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation. “Especially fundamental to the vision for the campus are community outreach and education programs that will help under-resourced youth and support schools through tennis, education and physical activity. We have built strong relationships in the county and are already taking action, now we can build on this momentum to create long-term and sustainable approaches through tennis and sport that create community, character, and well-being for all.”
The USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation has invested $10 million in the project and is actively seeking lead corporate sponsors and donors to help achieve the vision and be an instrumental part of the tennis campus. The tennis campus project is anticipated to cost $42 million and the groundbreaking is planned for 2025.
For more information about the tennis campus, including ways to get involved visit https://ustamidatlantictenniscampus.com/.
View the tennis campus renderings here.
About USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation:
USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to promoting tennis and its physical, social, and emotional health benefits. Our mission is to promote and develop the growth of tennis. Our vision is tennis in EVERY community. For 100 years USTA Mid-Atlantic has been the leader for tennis in the region. We operate leagues, tournaments, and other outreach programs and events throughout the region for more than 30,000 adult and youth members in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and eastern and southern West Virginia. We support the community providers, facilities, and coaches that directly deliver the sport.
Follow us on social media at:
https://www.facebook.com/ustamidatlantic/
https://www.instagram.com/ustamidatlantic/
SOURCE USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation
Sports
RACKETPAL: LEADING UK SPORTS TECH BUSINESS ACHIEVES SIGNIFICANT USER GROWTH AND LAUNCHES STRATEGIC REVIEW
LONDON /PRNewswire/ — RacketPal, a leading UK sports tech business, today announces that the Company has achieved a number of significant growth milestones and has launched a strategic review to ensure that the business continues to develop and grow, both here in the UK and internationally (the “Strategic Review”).
Founded in 2019, London-headquartered RacketPal is the largest racket sports community in the UK that helps players be more physically active by encouraging them to be part of active communities, find local partners and games, book coaching lessons and join nearby clubs and venues. The business has previously raised millions of pounds, and the tech behind the RacketPal platform is of the highest calibre and is fully scalable – a new sport can be added very quickly with only a few clicks.
RacketPal has achieved significant user growth (126% year-on-year), with over 125,000 registered users; 6,000 club communities have been created to date. The business recently launched a B2B offering which helps venues, clubs and leisure centres increase sport participation and bookings.
In the last 12 months, RacketPal has rolled out a number of product enhancements, such as wearables and contacts integration, double leagues, communities section, court booking shortcuts, added 5 new racket sports and implemented various safeguarding and safekeeping initiatives on the platform.
Robert Rizea, CEO and Co-founder of RacketPal, said “Our mission is to be the largest and most engaged sports community in the world; we have focused first on racket sports as there are 7 million racket sports players in the UK and 800 million players worldwide, but our platform can easily be adapted to cover any sport. We have achieved incredible growth and we are excited about what the future holds for us.”.
The Strategic Review includes RacketPal reviewing all its options, such as a growth investment and a full sale of the business. Exploratory conversations have already commenced with a number of potential domestic and international firms. The Strategic Review is being handled exclusively by Lazarus Consulting, the boutique M&A advisory firm.
ABOUT RACKETPAL
Launched in 2019 and available on the web, iOS and Android, RacketPal is a racket sports community where users can find local racket sports players, courts, clubs and instructors in seconds. RacketPal currently covers Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis, Squash, Padel Tennis, Pickleball, Racquetball and Platform Tennis. Prior to launching RacketPal, Robert Rizea, RacketPal‘s Co-founder and CEO, was a No 1 ranked tennis player in Romania for 6 years. Please see www.racketpal.co.uk for more information.
ABOUT LAZARUS CONSULTING
Lazarus Consulting is an award-winning boutique advisory firm offering Business Development, Capital Raising, Corporate Development, and M&A services to clients primarily in the tech, media, and retail sectors. The firm is the exclusive corporate finance advisor to RacketPal. Please see www.lazarusconsulting.net for more information.
SOURCE RacketPal
-
Community1 year agoDiana Gregory Talks to us about Diana Gregory’s Outreach Services
-
Senior Pickleball Report1 year ago
ACE PICKLEBALL CLUB TO DEBUT THEIR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED INDOOR PICKLEBALL FRANCHISES IN THE US, IN EARLY 2023
-
Entertainment1 year ago
The Absolute Most Comfortable Pickleball Shoe I’ve Ever Worn!
-
Automotive1 year ago
2023 Nissan Sentra pricing starts at $19,950
-
Blog1 year ago
Unique Experiences at the CitizenM
-
Senior Pickleball Report1 year ago
“THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS OF PICKLEBALL” – VOTING OPEN
-
Blog1 year ago
Assistory Showing Support on Senior Assist Day
-
influencers1 year ago
Keeping Pickleball WEIRD, INEXPENSIVE and FUN? These GUYS are!
