Just last week, we discussed how pickleball is taking over under-utilized malls across the country; now, we have a massive announcement from a modular indoor pickleball concept called Picklemall. They aim to repurpose existing mall properties by installing premium pickleball spaces for the sport’s growing player base.
Their first location will be in the Arizona Mills Shopping Center in Tempe, AZ. The 104,000-square-foot facility will feature 24 regulation-sized courts.
According to Picklemall, the Arizona facility is just the first of fifty locations they plan to open across the country within 24 months. Their website states that after the Arizona Mills location opens this July, locations will also open up in “Central” and “Midwest” by late summer of 2023.
The concept was developed by CEO West Shaw and has been officially backed by Major League Pickleball (MLP) Founder and entrepreneur Steve Kuhn. Their huge expansion plans hope to help cut down the waiting time that pickleball players all over the nation are all too familiar with.
In a recent interview, Shaw mentions that they don’t just want to provide a place to play, but they also want to engage with the community to help them improve as players.
“Our goal is to not only make pickleball accessible to more people, but to actually help them improve their game with the help of experts. We will have a few technological tricks up our sleeves to make that happen, and we’re excited to unveil them to the public.”
West Shaw, CEO of Picklemall
When players come to play at a Picklemall facility, they will be able to use a Picklemall app which will allow them to use the cameras installed at each court to record footage of their games and practice sessions. This way, players can better track their process and analyze their own game in motion.
Shaw also mentioned that Arizona was the perfect place to test their model. Picklemall courts will be completely climate-controlled environments, allowing players to feel comfortable during the intense desert heat of summer and through Arizona’s cold winter nights.
“Arizona, with its hot temperatures that can drain the city’s energy in the summer, presents an exciting opportunity for Picklemall to ignite joy and cultivate friendly competition in a safe, cool, and familiar environment.”
West Shaw, CEO of Picklemall
To ensure the best possible experience for their guests, Picklemall has also partnered with Joola, one of the leading pickleball equipment companies. They will provide paddles and other pickleball merchandise for purchase through the Picklemall Pro Shop and offer high-quality equipment for rentals.
We’re excited to see how Picklemall comes together, as there’s so much promise for what they will provide for pickleball communities nationwide. For more updates about the Arizona Mills Picklemall grand opening and about the development of future venues, follow Picklemall’s website and Instagram.
