Ace Rodrigues’ journey into the world of pickleball began with the same passion that grips most players. However, he quickly identified the pitfalls of outdoor play: unpredictable weather, difficulty in reserving courts and more.
“Once I started to play, like most people I fell in love with the sport,” recalled Rodrigues. “Then, like most people, I saw the downsides of pickleball; you can’t reserve a court, they’re dirty, it’s cold, it’s hot, the sun, and most of all the wind would ruin a great game. It wasn’t a leap to realize that if this were indoors, all those problems go away.”
This realization led to the founding of Pickleball Kingdom, one of the fastest-growing indoor pickleball franchises in the country. Currently, it has over 140 locations planned in the U.S. and has recently signed a deal with Franchise India Group to bring locations to India and Abu Dhabi, with the rest of the UAE to follow.
According to Rodrigues, Pickleball Kingdom stands out as a pickleball franchise in a number of ways.
First and foremost, it is a values-driven organization, with five core values that set the tone and direction for all decisions. These core values include:
- At Pickleball Kingdom we believe that life is better with pickleball
- Competition is fun
- Playing pickleball is good for you physically, socially and spiritually
- Our greatest asset is our community
- We respect our teammates, and you are our teammate
“We are the only pickleball franchise company to be built on values,” said Rodrigues. “This is so much more to us than just hitting a ball over a net.”
Additionally, Pickleball Kingdom was designed from the start with franchising in mind. Rodrigues and his team have developed a comprehensive operations manual, Keys to the Kingdom, a 150-page working document that empowers franchisees for success.
“This 150-page playbook is constantly being updated as we iterate and keep getting better,” said Rodrigues. “All our franchisees receive this and go through a five-day intensive training program here at our corporate offices and at our flagship club. Then when they launch, we are alongside them every step of their journey. We truly become business partners.”
When it comes to the ideal franchisee, Rodrigues emphasized that drive is key. “We look for driven people,” he said. “As simple as this sounds, if they have a strong desire to succeed and a good attitude, the rest is details. Since we know the formula and the elements to our ‘secret sauce,’ it’s just a matter of finding the right operators to run our play. Getting the right people is everything to us.”
Up next for Pickleball Kingdom is continued growth across the U.S. and internationally, along with a reality competition TV show, Pickleball Paddle Battle. “That will help introduce the sport and our brand to the public at large,” said Rodrigues. “Within a year, we will have a location awarded in all 50 states. Within five years, we will have a Pickleball Kingdom in every country in the world.”
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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.
