As the popularity of pickleball continues to pick up in New Jersey and around the country, a national franchise announced a 20-club rollout of Pickleball Kingdom facilities across the state. 

The Chandler, Ariz.-based company said Oct. 2 that Samrat “Sam” Sood signed the agreement for the new outposts, which “will be strategically located throughout New Jersey.”  

“This groundbreaking deal for 20 premium pickleball clubs is a major milestone in our mission to provide pickleball enthusiasts with top tier playing experiences,” Pickleball Kingdom CEO and founder Ace Rodrigues said in a statement. “Sam’s commitment to the sport and dedication to innovation align perfectly with our franchising vision.”

In an email to NJBIZ, Rodrigues said the Garden State locations will be primarily in Central Jersey, “to start.” Rodrigues added that Sood is targeting the end of the first quarter or beginning of the second quarter of 2024 for the first wave of clubs.

The new facilities will include indoor and outdoor pickleball courts; professional coaching, training programs and clinics for players of all skill levels; and video playback technology, provided by PlaySight. The new locations will also be open for events, leagues, tournaments and community outreach programs. 

“Our vision is to provide pickleball players with the best of both worlds – outdoor pickleball excitement played indoors. We look forward to creating a vibrant pickleball community and advancing the sport in our state,” Sood said.

As part of the partnership agreement, Sood will sign on owners and investors to participate in the market expansion. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

According to Rodrigues, Pickleball Kingdom has clubs at different levels of build-out in Texas, Georgia and Wisconsin with more than 80 franchise locations on the horizon.

Pickleball has been gaining momentum in the Garden State as of late, with Pickle Juice locations opening in Ventnor Heights and Blackwood (both delayed from their original summer date, according to the facility website). Additionally, the Monroe Sports Center opened The Pickleball Club at Monroe in September.