A Pickleball Revolution Comes to Fort Wayne

Spiece Fieldhouse to be transformed into largest indoor pickleball complex east of the Mississippi

Pickleball, one of the fasting growing sports in America, is coming to Fort Wayne in a big way. Local entrepreneurs TK Herman and Scott Howard have partnered to turn the iconic Spiece Fieldhouse into the flagship location for a new national chain of premium indoor pickleball facilities. "For the Fort Wayne community, it's centrally located. Rather than having two facilities, we can have one large facility," said Herman.

At 66,000 square feet, the new complex will be the largest dedicated indoor pickleball facility east of the Mississippi River. With 22 regulation-size courts, including a championship court, the Spiece location is poised to transform Fort Wayne into a pickleball destination. "This is about double the size of what Ace Pickleball Club wants for a facility," said Herman, referring to the national pickleball club chain that Herman and Howard have partnered with to launch their new venture.

The transformation of Spiece Fieldhouse signals the explosive growth of pickleball nationwide. A paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong, pickleball has spread like wildfire over the past decade. Herman cited some staggering statistics about the sport's growth:

00:47 - The Fastest Growing Sport in America

"Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country," said Herman. He noted that while most players currently compete outdoors, the rise of indoor facilities is inevitable. "Seventy percent of the country cannot play outdoors 60% of the year. And even when you can play outdoors, you're at the mercy of the wind and the heat."

Herman believes pickleball is reaching a tipping point where major tournaments will move indoors, following the lead of professional tennis. The unpredictable outdoor elements make it difficult to film and broadcast pickleball for mainstream audiences.

03:09 - Perfect Timing for Indoor Facilities

Herman and Howard sense an opportunity to get ahead of the curve. "We could not be happier to bring this to Spiece," said Howard. The partners plan to open 10 pickleball facilities across the Midwest over the next two years, with Fort Wayne as the flagship.

"Our goal is to put Fort Wayne on the map," said Herman. With its massive footprint and prime location, the Spiece complex will introduce pickleball on a grand scale to the region.

14:23 - PlaySight Video Technology

The Ace Pickleball Club has struck a deal with a video technology vendor called Playsight, initially designed for tennis but adapted for pickleball. This technology allows players to review their matches on their phones and potentially share highlights on social media. Additionally, they are testing the feasibility of implementing instant replay, although concerns about slowing down the game were acknowledged. Being part of a franchise system was highlighted as an advantage, as it allows for continuous innovation and the introduction of new features.

16:06 - Leveraging Past Entrepreneurial Success

Both Herman and Howard are applying lessons from their earlier business success to build a premier pickleball experience. As former owners of multiple Sky Zone trampoline parks, they understand the importance of creating an exceptional customer experience.

"I always say this - being successful in business is all about creating a great experience for the customer and equally so for the people that work for you," remarked Herman. "If you can do a good job with that, there are great examples around like Sweetwater."

Herman wants to replicate the feeling people get walking into Sweetwater, even if products are cheaper elsewhere. He aspires to create the "Mercedes Benz of indoor pickleball facilities."

21:14 - Pickleball Mecca in the Making

Between the new facility and the 30+ outdoor courts already installed around Fort Wayne, the city will boast over 50 pickleball courts once the new complex opens. For context, Herman noted that currently there is 1 outdoor pickleball court for every 250 players nationally.

"There is a significant need for more courts. So even though we're putting this in, there's still going to be a need for courts in other places," he said. The crowds are coming.

Fort Wayne's wealth of indoor and outdoor courts positions the city to become a pickleball mecca in the Midwest. Tournaments and events will inevitably follow.

30:29 - Opening Day Can't Come Soon Enough

With final permits still pending, Herman could not commit to an exact opening date. But he remains optimistic that doors will open by the end of 2023.

Scott Howard, his eager business partner, dreams of cutting the ribbon even sooner. "Scott wants it to be open by October 1st," laughed Herman. "But there's a lot to do."

Construction is slated to begin in the coming weeks. Courts will be gutted down to the concrete and rebuilt to professional specifications. The facility may retain heritage elements like Assembly Hall's original center scoreboard.

44:54 - Approaching Perfection: Insights from Premier Local Players

To dig deeper into the player experience, pickleball enthusiasts Abby and Matt Brandenburger of the "One More Game" podcast joined the conversation. Some key insights:

They applauded Herman's commitment to building regulation-size courts with ample spacing, avoiding shortcuts.
The championship court with spectator seating will elevate tournaments and create an unforgettable experience for recreational players.
PlaySight Technology like ball tracking and video replay for coaching will help players improve.
Open play opportunities to meet new players are key to fostering the game's cherished social bonds.

The Brandenburgers embody the explosive growth of pickleball over the past decade. Just 10 years ago, the sport was unheard of in Fort Wayne. Today, thousands play on outdoor courts across the city. The new indoor complex will "bring pickleball even more to the 260," Matt remarked.

55:42 - Catering to Pros and Beginners Alike

Herman and Howard view their state-of-the-art facility as more than just a business. They share a genuine passion to spread and grow the game of pickleball.

Abby asked how they will balance the needs of hardcore competitors with newcomers looking to try the sport.

"Our goal is to create a spot that's known for good pickleball, while also keeping the social aspect," said Howard. Maintaining that welcoming community spirit amid intense tournament play is a priority.

1:08:51 - Video Technology Enhances Training

Matt expressed excitement about plans for video review technology that will help players analyze and improve their skills. "As a guy who videos myself quite a bit, but then has to go home and download it and upload it to YouTube, the tech side of things - part of bringing a great experience to customers - I think that's key," he remarked.

Herman agreed, noting that Ace Pickleball Club has already forged deals with leading video tech partners (PlaySight) in the tennis world to adapt similar systems for pickleball. Players will be able to review footage of their games on their phones and share epic shots on social media.

1:16:52 - It's All About Community

Matt praised Herman and Howard for keeping community building at the forefront, not just revenue. "What I love about pickleball that I've learned is there's also a lot of socializing and people get together and have a good time - it's almost like a really social club," he commented.

Herman echoed the significance of community in pickleball's success. "I think that's one of the fun things about pickleball, to your point - meeting new people," he responded. The partners recognize that art of fostering social bonds will be key, even amid serious competition.

The massive Spiece Fieldhouse complex reflects the explosive growth of pickleball across America. Herman and Howard have chosen Fort Wayne to pilot their vision for premium indoor facilities that combine rigorous play with a welcoming spirit.

As the partners leverage their business acumen and passion for community, Fort Wayne may soon become the pickleball capital of the Midwest. As Opening Day nears, Herman summarizes the ethos driving this budding pickleball revolution: "Our goal is to have the Mercedes Benz of indoor pickleball facilities." Game on.

YouTube Time Code List

01:55 Big pickleball facility coming to Fort Wayne's Spiece Fieldhouse, thanks to new business partnership between TK Herman and Scott Howard.
02:49 Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US. Most play outdoors, but issues with weather and wind make indoor facilities appealing.
05:15 TK and Scott tell The Pickleball Story. They plan to open 10 Ace Pickleball Clubs in the Midwest. At 66,000 sq ft, Spiece Fieldhouse will be their flagship location, the largest indoor pickleball facility east of the Mississippi River and the best center court in the US.
13:20 Ace Pickleball Club color scheme
14:23 - Live Streaming Video, PlaySight Video Technology
16:01 Herman and Howard are drawing on their past success building Sky Zone trampoline parks to create a top-notch pickleball experience.
21:28 Pickleball Stats
27:33 Goal: Open 5 locations by the end of 2024
29:30 Being successful in business is about creating a great experience for the customer and the client and the people that work for you
29:55 M Benz of Indoor Pickleball Facilities
31:11 The Fort Wayne location is slated to open by the end of 2023.
35:13 Q&A - Rapid Fire
44:50 Abby and Matt Brandenburger of the "One More Game" pickleball podcast join to discuss the facility from a player perspective.
46:47 Replacing the hardwood basketball courts with professional grade concrete courts
48:37 Center Courts
50:02 Price Points, Fee Structure: Memberships/Drop-in rates, clinics and camps, leagues and tournaments, glow
51:33 The community feel: Meeting new people, having friends and having fun
52:32 Food
54:49 Scott - How much freedom to you have to build the facility the way you want it? Herman and Howard want to make the facility welcoming for new players, while still creating a top tournament destination.
57:08 Hours: 6-10
57:49 Membership options
1:01:06 Timeline
1:02:46 Living the dream
1:03:00 Court Design
1:05:02 Quick story
1:06:14 Color Scheme
1:06:54 A Pro Shop, Demo Paddles
1:08:25 Expanding to 10 Facilities
1:09:27 MLP Connection, PPA/APP
1:11:38 Facility will have video review technology to help players analyze and improve their game.
1:12:27 Market Research
1:14:07 Fun Family Activity
1:15:51 Fort Wayne Location
1:16:51 Something you love? Brandenburgers emphasize importance of community and social aspects that make pickleball fun.