Indoor Pickleball Coming to a Converted Mall Near You

Looking to capitalize on one of the fastest-growing sports games in the country, pickleball enthusiast, billionaire financier, and Major League Pickleball founder Steve Kuhn announced a push to convert the reuse of existing indoor mall and strip mall properties into pickleball facilities.

Called Picklemalls, Kuhn plans to open 50 US locations in 24 months, including the first in Tempe, Ariz., in July.

Other cities in the immediate works are Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Madison, and Bentonville, Ark.

Some shopping malls—with a current vacancy rate of 8.8% and an average size of 10,000-30,000 square feet—that are looking to stay relevant, present a real opportunity to creatively incorporate competitive socializing concepts into their spaces, especially if they are in competitive locations, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

GlobeSt.com recently reported that the range of activities that fall under the umbrella of competitive socializing is diverse and includes mini golf, darts, racing, axe throwing, and escape rooms.

“These experiences are becoming increasingly popular in urban environments with dense populations and plenty of foot traffic—providing a source of entertainment and fun for the community and an opportunity for landlords to revitalize aging assets and fill large, underutilized vacancies,” according to Cushman & Wakefield.

Kuhn said the robust expansion is mainly intended to “reduce the wait times for players while quickly increasing the standard for championship-style pickleball courts in the US,” according to a release. It also will provide convenience, climate control, and consistent competition.

Players will be able to schedule games and track their performance through Picklemall’s app, which also allows them to unlock the door to the Picklemall experience.

Inside the court, games will be recorded by a camera, giving players the ability to watch, analyze and learn from their game footage in real-time.

Pickleball enjoyed a 35% growth from August 2022 to March 2023, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals.

These new facilities will be open to leagues, clinics, open play, tournaments, and drop-in games. They will come with a Picklemall Pro Shop, available inside each Picklemall location, and feature Picklemall-branded merchandise and professional pickleball equipment from premier facility partner JOOLA USA. The facility will also include options for equipment rental.

“Every year, the demographics for the sport get younger and younger,” Kuhn said in prepared remarks.

“Pickleball can cross the barriers that divide us — age, race, class — to foster togetherness and spread joy to the communities in which Picklemall will reside. That starts with getting creative about location, and the future of pickleball is indoors.”