Ace, others to open membership-based pickleball courts in SWFL

Roswell, Georgia-based Ace Pickleball Club franchise is growing in Florida and nationwide, among those companies capitalizing on the game’s rising popularity by offering indoor courts for a membership fee.

Ace’s long-awaited spot in Fort Myers at 2501 Alessio Drive is scheduled to open in the second quarter. There is not yet a specific date set for its grand opening. Ace now has 13 U.S. locations, with franchisees planning to open 25 to 30 more across the country by the end of the year, company officials said.

“I’m thrilled to bring this new Ace Pickleball Club to Fort Myers and provide a top-tier indoor facility for players of all skill levels,” said McKinley Cooper, owner of Ace Pickleball Club Fort Myers. “This new location will not only offer a great place to compete and stay active but also build a strong, welcoming community around the sport.”

It will offer 12 professional-grade courts in a 34,000-square-foot space, charge members a flat monthly fee and plans to hire 30 people to run the club. Courts are organized by skill level and prioritize all-day open play with no reservations required. Company officials said the fee is yet to be determined in Fort Myers, but Ace previously charged $109 per month for members at its other Florida location in Lutz.

Cooper, an avid pickleball player, is an owner of Bonita Springs-based investment company Red Team Ventures LLC, along with Charles Cooper and Debra Cooper.

Jay Diederich and Joe Sexton are co-founders of the Ace company. They also developed Sky Zone Trampoline Parks and other brands. Sexton, Ace’s president, told Franchise Times in 2023 that they approved of Cooper and Red Team Ventures for its Florida locations because “they are proven franchise operators” with experience running The Joint Chiropractic and Buff City Soap.

Other companies plan to open or have opened membership-based indoor courts in the area. Locally owned DNA Pickleball currently offers courts in Fort Myers. Miami Beach-based PickleRage is eyeing a potential Fort Myers location. And Kaysville, Utah-based The Picklr Club is slated to open facilities in Fort Myers and Naples this year.

Ace officials said “the demand for high-quality, indoor playing facilities has never been greater” as interest in pickleball continues to spread. Indoor facilities may help alleviate crowded courts, catering to demand for rainy-day play and during the most relentlessly hot, sunny hours of the afternoon.

It costs between $817,750 and $2.4 million to open a franchise, Ace officials said, stating franchisees can expect simple, low friction operations and predictable, recurring revenue.

While pickleball infrastructure grew by 55% in the U.S. last year, industry experts said that $855 million in investment in court construction will still be needed to keep up with demand over the next five years. The blog Pickleheads found that the sport boasts a $1.5 billion market with a forecasted 11.3% growth rate through 2028.

Ace prioritizes community building, such as pickleball clinics, tournaments and other social events. Its website lists Ace pickleball locations already open in Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Arizona, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. It also shows that its Lutz location is already sold out of memberships.