---
title: "The Pickleball Franchise Boom - Where is it Now?"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/8c572f8d-7fee-4c5b-ab2a-c7d753ab9519
source: "Empires Weekly"
original_url: https://empirespod.substack.com/p/the-pickleball-franchise-boom-where
author: "Patrick Buckley"
category: "Boutique fitness"
industry: "Fitness"
segment: "Boutique fitness"
topics: ["Emerging brands"]
published: 2026-10-05T13:38:36.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T06:01:11.688Z
image: https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K01e!,w_1200,h_600,c_fill,f_jpg,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-video.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fvideo_upload%2Fpost%2F218480354%2F1d06ee50-7900-49f4-800c-d42a488afa49%2Ftranscoded-1790938001.png
---

# The Pickleball Franchise Boom - Where is it Now?

**TL;DR:** The pickleball franchise boom is struggling due to high rents and unrealistic revenue projections, with many clubs facing financial struggles. Ace has paused franchising and is expanding into media, with Jay predicting a major industry shakeout.

*By Patrick Buckley, originally published in Empires Weekly on 2026-10-05. [Read the original](https://empirespod.substack.com/p/the-pickleball-franchise-boom-where).*

## Story

We discuss why clubs are struggling despite the sport's popularity. The high rents and unrealistic revenue projections are hurting operators.

- High rents are making it difficult for operators to turn a profit
- Unrealistic revenue projections are leading to financial struggles
- Many clubs are struggling to meet their financial obligations

Jay also shares Ace's expansion into media and why he remains optimistic about pickleball's future - even as he predicts a major industry shakeout.

Ace is expanding into media, which Jay believes will help the company stay ahead of the competition and further establish pickleball as a popular sport.

Jay predicts a major industry shakeout, where many struggling pickleball clubs will be forced to close their doors. He believes this will ultimately lead to a stronger, more sustainable industry in the long run.

Despite the challenges facing the industry, Jay remains optimistic about pickleball's future. He believes the sport has a strong foundation and will continue to grow in popularity.

Ace paused franchising due to the challenges facing the industry. Jay believes this was the right decision, as it allows the company to focus on its core business and make necessary adjustments to stay ahead of the competition.

Overall, Jay's insights provide a unique perspective on the business behind the pickleball boom and the challenges facing the industry.

## Entities

- Emerging (sector)
- Empires Weekly (publication)
- Patrick Buckley (person)
- financial struggles (topic)
- franchise boom (topic)
- industry shakeout (topic)
- expansion into media (topic)

---
Originally reported by Patrick Buckley, Empires Weekly (https://empirespod.substack.com/p/the-pickleball-franchise-boom-where). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/8c572f8d-7fee-4c5b-ab2a-c7d753ab9519).