The Picklr Heads to Canada

The Picklr, a North American indoor pickleball franchise backed by former NFL player Drew Brees, is expanding into Canada through a master franchise agreement with TPC Development Corporation (TPC), which plans to open 65 locations — the first of which will open in Toronto in 2025.

The agreement gives the group the exclusive rights to develop and operate all Picklr clubs in Canada outside of Quebec.

The Picklr’s chief growth officer, Scott Schubiger, noted that with the indoor pickleball franchisor’s domestic strategy in full swing, entering Canada was a “clear next step.”

“With a goal of expanding into a minimum of five additional global markets by the end of 2025, it was hugely important to start with our neighbors to the north,” Schubiger said. “Partnering with TPC brings a wealth of success and experience to the table. Led by a proven executive team, they recognize the accelerated adoption rate of pickleball in Canada as being on the same trajectory as that in the U.S. We are thrilled that Canadian players of all ages will soon benefit from the industry-leading premier indoor pickleball playing experience.”

Expansion plans

The Utah-based Picklr has sold more than 390 locations in 42 states and plans to open 70 more clubs in 2025.

“We recognized the tremendous competitive advantage that The Picklr has developed to address the opportunity for indoor pickleball facilities in the U.S.,” TPC Development CEO Bernie Plett said. “We are confident that the Canadian market will benefit from the years of experience that is now available across Canada for professional pickleball facility design and construction, membership programs, customer experience, venue sponsorships, merchandise and the full programming available to players of all ages and skill levels.”

Technology partnership

This month, the indoor pickleball franchise signed a multi-year deal with Wingfield, a racquet sports tech company, to bring AI-powered video and data tracking systems to all Picklr locations.

Like Picklr, Pickleball Kingdom also has ambitions to advance the beloved sport in Canada. The U.S.-based indoor pickleball franchise announced plans to open clubs across Canada earlier this year, beginning with multiple locations in Ontario.