New Orleans pickleball just got a bigger connection to one of Chicago’s fastest-growing pickleball lifestyle brands.
Clear Skies Hospitality, the company behind Chicago’s SPF pickleball clubs, has acquired The Exchange, New Orleans’ first and only dedicated pickleball facility. The move marks Clear Skies Hospitality’s first expansion outside Chicago and brings together two urban pickleball destinations built around a similar idea: pickleball is not just a court reservation — it is a place to play, hang out, eat, drink, meet people, and build community.
For rec players, that is the part worth watching.
Pickleball facilities are no longer just adding lines on tennis courts or dropping portable nets into gyms. More and more, the sport is moving toward full-service “third places” where players can compete, socialize, take clinics, join events, and actually spend time before and after games.
That is exactly the lane The Exchange has already carved out in New Orleans.
We met up with Rich Green, Co-Founder of SPF to talk shop before the announcement. Video below;
A Big Move Beyond Chicago
Clear Skies Hospitality is best known for SPF, Chicago’s first and largest pickleball lifestyle club, located in Lincoln Park. SPF opened in January 2024 with nine dedicated indoor courts, dining, lounge areas, guest amenities, and a broader entertainment setup that includes games, recovery-style amenities, and social programming.
The company has since expanded its Chicago pickleball footprint with SPF All Day in Old Irving Park, described as Chicago’s first 24/7 autonomous pickleball facility. A third SPF location is also planned for Chicago’s West Loop in November 2026.
Now, with the acquisition of The Exchange, Clear Skies Hospitality is taking its first step into a new market.
“The Exchange was a natural fit for our continued growth,” said Clear Skies Hospitality co-founder Rich Green in the announcement. He emphasized that the company wants to build on what already works locally rather than replace it.
That is important language, especially for players who already call The Exchange home.
What Happens to The Exchange?
For now, players should not expect a dramatic overnight change.
According to the announcement, The Exchange will continue operating under its current name, with its existing team remaining in place. Members and customers should see no immediate change to the day-to-day experience.
That is probably the smartest move.
The Exchange already has a strong identity in New Orleans. Founded in 2023 by Renée Melchiode, the Lower Garden District facility helped introduce a first-of-its-kind pickleball and hospitality destination to the city. The 26,000-square-foot venue includes six indoor courts, one outdoor court, food and beverage offerings, coaching, events, and community programming.
In other words, this was not just a court business waiting for a new sign on the door. It was already a local pickleball gathering place.
Melchiode said she is proud of what the team has built and described The Exchange as more than a facility — a place where people gather, connect, and build relationships.
That is exactly why the acquisition matters. Clear Skies Hospitality is not just buying courts. It is buying into a community.
Why Rec Players Should Care
At first glance, acquisitions like this can sound like business news only. But for everyday players, they can shape the future of where and how we play.
The most interesting part of this move is the possibility of expanded programming and cross-club initiatives between Chicago and New Orleans. That could mean more events, more organized play, more travel-style pickleball experiences, more clinics, more social formats, and potentially more polished player experiences.
For rec players, that kind of structure can be a big deal.
A lot of local pickleball scenes struggle with the same problems: crowded courts, uneven open play, limited beginner programming, confusing skill divisions, and not enough social infrastructure around the sport. Dedicated facilities can solve some of that by giving players clearer options: leagues, ladders, clinics, private events, social nights, rating-based play, and casual drop-in formats.
The best pickleball clubs do not just give you a court.
They give you a reason to come back.
The Bigger Trend: Pickleball as Hospitality
This acquisition also fits a larger trend in the sport. Pickleball is increasingly being packaged with hospitality: food, drinks, lounge space, music, events, memberships, corporate outings, birthday parties, and travel-style experiences.
Some purists may roll their eyes at that. And sure, not every game needs a smoothie bar and a curated lounge area.
But the reality is that many rec players want more than a court. They want a place where they can play a few games, meet friends, hang out afterward, bring non-playing family members, or turn pickleball night into an actual night out.
That is where venues like The Exchange and SPF are trying to sit: somewhere between sport, community center, restaurant, club, and entertainment venue.
And honestly, that makes sense for pickleball.
This sport has always been social. The business side is just catching up to what players already know: the game is often as much about the people as the points.
What Could Change Next?
The announcement does not promise immediate changes, and that is a good thing. But the acquisition does point toward a few possible developments:
Clear Skies Hospitality says the deal will allow it to build on The Exchange’s success, introduce expanded programming, create cross-club initiatives between Chicago and New Orleans, and continue growth opportunities for both communities.
That could be especially interesting if the company eventually connects its club network through events, tournaments, member travel opportunities, or shared programming between cities.
Imagine Chicago players visiting New Orleans for a pickleball weekend, or New Orleans players plugging into SPF events when traveling north. That kind of cross-city club ecosystem is still relatively new in pickleball, but it fits where the sport is heading.
The Local Angle
The Exchange is located at 2120 Rousseau Street in New Orleans’ Lower Garden District.
That location matters because urban pickleball is still evolving. In many cities, players are fighting for court time in parks, gyms, tennis centers, and converted warehouses. A dedicated venue with indoor courts, outdoor play, food, drinks, and programming gives the local scene a more stable anchor.
For New Orleans players, the big question will be whether Clear Skies Hospitality can enhance the experience without sanding off what made The Exchange feel local in the first place.
Based on the announcement, that seems to be the stated goal: keep the team, keep the name, keep the foundation, and build from there.
A New Chapter for The Exchange
Clear Skies Hospitality’s acquisition of The Exchange is another sign that pickleball’s next growth phase is not just about more courts. It is about better places to play.
For New Orleans, The Exchange remains the city’s dedicated pickleball destination. For Clear Skies Hospitality, it is the company’s first step beyond Chicago. And for rec players, it is one more example of how pickleball is becoming a full lifestyle experience — part sport, part social club, part community hub.
The best news? The Exchange is not being replaced.
It is getting a bigger network behind it.
And if that means more programming, more events, stronger community ties, and better player experiences, New Orleans pickleballers may have a lot to look forward to.
