Pickleball Kingdom announced it has signed a deal with Franchise India Group to bring locations to India and Abu Dhabi, with the rest of the UAE to follow.
This announcement makes Pickleball Kingdom the world’s first internationally franchised indoor pickleball brand.
“This is a dream come true,” said Ace Rodrigues, the founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom, in a statement. “Global expansion was part of the plan from day one, and now we’re here. Currently we have 140+ locations in queue in the U.S. With this partnership, we will double that number almost overnight. And this is just the beginning.”
Franchise India Group is now accepting applications from interested parties to franchise.
“We are looking for seasoned businesspeople who understand the value of having first market mover advantage,” said Venus Barak, the CEO of FranGlobal, in a statement. “We will have these key stakeholders in place for each territory that we open.”
Pickleball Kingdom stands out as a franchise due its climate controlled, indoor facilities and offerings including lessons, leagues, tournaments, parties, team building events and refreshments. Members and visitors can reserve courts or participate in open play.
“The time has come,” added Rodrigues. “This is our entry onto the international stage. We will be in every country in the world inside of 5 years. One of our value statements is, ‘Pickleball is good for you physically, socially and spiritually.’ I can’t wait to hear, ‘Welcome to the Kingdom’ spoken in every language on the planet! Teammates, get ready, the Kingdom is coming.”
This announcement comes on the heels of Pickleball Kingdom announcing plans to open a series of state-of-the-art indoor pickleball clubs in Chicago, led by GTOne Management Group.
With over a decade spent covering the business side of sports and fitness, Rachel Chonko brings a wealth of experience and a true passion for active communities to Peake Media. As Editor-in-Chief, she’s focused on helping pickleball clubs and fitness facilities thrive, from guiding growth strategies to showcasing the latest industry trends. Rachel also hosts the Club Solutions Magazine Podcast, where she interviews leaders in fitness and pickleball to share insights and success stories with the wider community to give her listeners a competitive edge.
After taking up pickleball herself, Rachel has come to appreciate the sport’s unique blend of social connection and active living — a mix that’s perfectly in line with her editorial philosophy. Connect with her on LinkedIn, or check out her articles below for a deep dive into the energy and culture driving pickleball’s rapid rise.
