FORT COLLINS, Colo., Oct. 12, 2023 – America’s pickleball boom is ready to make a splash in Colorado and Wyoming.
The Picklr, the United States’ premiere indoor pickleball facility, has signed a development agreement to bring 16 of its franchises to the region. The local franchising partner is Colorado Pickleball ADA LLC, an investment group run by Jim Lautzenheiser, Kyle Yates, Chad Preiss and Randy Halfpop.
As planned, Colorado Pickleball ADA will own and operate a minimum of three facilities in Colorado. The investors will set up at least 13 other The Picklr facilities through other franchisees, and possibly more if demand is sufficient.
Pickleball’s recent rise in popularity has been meteoric. Once considered a pastime for older recreational players, the sport has been gaining traction with younger players. According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), there are 36.5 million pickleballers in the U.S., and 70 percent of avid pickleballers are between the ages of 18 and 44. The Sports and Fitness Industry Association reports that the sport’s participation has increased 158.6 percent over the past three years. It is estimated that 25,000 new pickleball courts are needed to meet current demand in the U.S.
Pickleball is a professional sport. In fact, Kyle Yates – one of the partners – plays for the New York Hustlers Major League Pickleball team, was once ranked the world No. 1 player and is the reigning US Open Pickleball men’s doubles champion.
Yates recently moved from Florida – a hotbed for pickleball – to Colorado. After he arrived, he saw a need to promote the game in the Rocky Mountain region.
“Colorado is still catching up to the growing demand for pickleball courts and is facing many of the same issues that we in Florida have already dealt with.” One of these issues is the noise generated by pickleball.
“Combine the number players with the unusually loud noise of play, thrown into a public park close in proximity residential areas, and it’s not surprising to have some concerned neighbors,” Yates said. “The Picklr solves this issue by providing an indoor, quieter option for people to play.”
Yates believes the pickleball community in Colorado deserves more consistent and structured events. Colorado Pickleball ADA plans to provide more organized play for the state, including establishing large pickleball competitions that would attract out-of-state competitors and fans.
The Colorado and Wyoming announcement is also part of a larger initiative recently announced by The Picklr, which includes 80 new facilities across 11 states. Each of The Picklr facilities will have between eight and 15 courts, and is expected to employ 12-15 staff, including both full-time and part-time employees.
“Our growth strategy has always been rooted in understanding the needs of pickleball players and fans,” said Scott Schubiger, Chief Growth Officer of The Picklr. “Moreover, this expansion is a significant step towards achieving our mission of fostering and meeting the desires of a vibrant and inclusive pickleball community. In summary – Connect. Dink. Compete.”
With this franchise agreement, the partners demonstrate that Colorado plans to play an important role in filling the need for pickleball courts.
“I personally prefer to play on a quality indoor court, to avoid the elements from wreaking havoc on my games,” said Yates. “It can be quite challenging to compete in any wind, especially the gusts that Colorado often produces daily.”
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 eighty state-of-the-art facilities, professional coaching, 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 www.thepicklr.com to learn more about owning a franchise.
About Colorado Pickleball ADA
Colorado Pickleball ADA is owned and managed by Colorado businessmen, Jim Lautzenheiser, Kyle Yates, Chad Preiss and Randy Halfpop. The Picklr provides a great opportunity for multiple generations to comfortably play pickleball together indoors. Pickleball started with adults and has spread to youth, the opposite of all other sports.
Yates, a 7x US Open Pickleball Champion, 4x USA Pickleball National Champion, and World Pickleball Federation #1 ranked player 2016-2019, re-located from Florida to Colorado earlier this year. His role will be to facilitate and develop world class instruction and event coordination across all of The Picklr franchises in Colorado.
Lautzenheiser has 28 years franchise experience owning and managing three Big O Tires locations and Grease Monkey in Fort Collins. He has resided in Fort Collins for 28 years.
Preiss is a former Woodward Business Group President and Aerowireless Group COO who has lived in Fort Collins for 19 years.
Halfpop retired from the U.S. Air Force after 24 years as a space systems engineer. He now owns The Compass Wealth Group with locations in Colorado Springs, Cheyenne and Fort Collins. He moved to Colorado Springs in 1995 and has lived in Fort Collins since 2017.