The Rapid Rise of Ace Pickleball Club: How Franchising Veterans Are Fueling Growth of Hot New Sport

Ace Co-Founder Joe Sexton Reveals Secrets Behind Building Booming Pickleball Franchise on The Wolf of Franchises Podcast

Pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in America, has exploded from niche hobby to mainstream phenomenon seemingly overnight. As celebrities like LeBron James, Tom Brady and Kevin Durant invest millions into new pro leagues, a parallel surge is happening on the local level. Meet Ace Pickleball Club - the ambitious startup harnessing franchising expertise to build dedicated pickleball facilities for recreational players across the country.

Co-Founder Joe Sexton joined The Wolf of Franchises podcast to discuss Ace's rapid national expansion. Despite launching just two years ago, the brand has already sold 56 units across 14 states. Meanwhile, private funding is pouring into the pro pickleball scene, drawing attention from sports media giants like ESPN.

So what exactly is fueling this pickleball craze? Sexton breaks down the perfect storm making it one of America's hottest growth industries. With open-minded strategy, Ace is spreading pickleball fever from small towns to major metros.

The Franchising Pedigree Behind Ace Pickleball's Rise

Sexton hails from an impressive franchising background at brands like Sky Zone Trampoline Park. Yet he left that success for a nascent concept in pickleball. This leap of faith gave Ace instant franchising credibility.

Sexton and his co-founders handpicked an all-star team with specialized skills in each area of franchise development. From site selection to design, operations and training, they leveraged proven systems established at past projects like Sky Zone.

Their measured approach focuses on sustainable growth through small area developer deals. Instead of overpromising vast territories, Ace empowers franchisees to open units at their own pace. This achieves rapid but manageable expansion across diverse markets.

Why Pickleball is Positioned for Long-Term Growth

Describing pickleball's viral spread, Sexton cites three key factors:

It's Social: Like bowling or golf, pickleball builds community. Players make new friends and connections across ages.
It's Aspirational: The game appears simple but has immense strategic depth. There's always room for improvement, driving competitiveness.
It's Multigenerational: From elementary schools to retirement homes, pickleball unites all ages. This broad appeal cements its longevity.

Relatedly, Sexton foresees pickleball becoming an NCAA sport within 30 years or less. The potential for college scholarships would expedite youth adoption. And since pickleball features mixed gender play, it could uniquely fill the demand for a co-ed collegiate sport.

The Differentiated Ace Experience

Amidst the business hype, Ace Pickleball Club remains laser focused on its core mission - elevating the player experience. Too many facilities treat pickleball as an afterthought, crammed between unused tennis or basketball courts.

In contrast, Ace designs elegant lounges purpose-built for pickleball. No detail is overlooked, from cushioned flooring to ideal lighting and acoustics. By crafting a consistent, upscale environment, Ace delivers premium playing conditions unmatched elsewhere.

This expertise attracted Sexton himself to abandon casual public parks after discovering Ace. He was tired of unreliable court availability and subpar surfaces causing injury. Now he proudly endorses the private club model for pickleball perfection.

Beyond world-class amenities, Ace Pickleball Club distinguishes itself through service. All staff embrace their critical role enriching the customer journey. It's about genuine hospitality - not just allocating courts.

Ace also provides free beginner training clinics to lower barriers for newcomers. Players learn fundamentals in a welcoming atmosphere before jumping into competitive games. This helps convert casual fans into devoted club members.

Converting Casual Fans Into Lifelong Players

For those just discovering pickleball through bar leagues or rec centers, Ace offers the ideal next step. It transforms playing from inconsistent pastime into serious lifestyle.

Once players are hooked, other alternatives simply don't compare. Dedicated clubs guarantee court availability and ideal conditions. No need guessing if public parks are booked up or weather permits.

Ace becomes their pickleball sanctuary for exercise, stress relief and friendship. Not limited by membership tiers, members can play unlimited games every day if desired.

Seeing his own mom find joy and community through pickleball inspired Sexton's vision.

Now Ace recreates that experience for fans nationwide. The brand's early success proves pickleball's time has arrived. But the journey is just beginning.

Sexton is eager to shatter misperceptions of pickleball as a niche sport for seniors. Yes, it builds cross-generational connections. But Ace is equally serving hardcore young millennials like himself.

For franchising investors and entrepreneurs, Ace Pickleball Club offers a perfect playbook for capitalizing on exciting new consumer trends. Thanks to operational expertise imported from category giants like Sky Zone, Ace is turning today's red-hot pickleball hype into sustainable, scalable business success built for the long run.

YouTube Time Code List

00:14 Joe Sexton is the co-founder of Ace Pickleball Club, a new franchise Wolf invested in. He has deep franchising experience. 00:43 Ace Pickleball Club has seen incredible growth already, with 56 units awarded across 14 states. 01:11 Ace Pickleball Club provides the infrastructure for everyday pickleball players, not just pros. 02:16 Ace focuses on smaller franchise deals to ensure territories get developed quickly. 03:40 Big development deals can lock up prime territories and stall growth. 04:20 Ace wants franchisees truly committed to rapid development in their markets. 05:21 Pickleball is humbling. Strategy and positioning matter as much as athleticism. 06:46 ️ In singles, athleticism can overcome experience. In doubles, it gets crushed by strategy. 07:55 ️‍️ Pickleball's learning curve and need for strategy makes it addictively competitive. 09:30 Ace has been disciplined in not overselling territories to preserve growth opportunities. 10:54 Big development deals sound sexy but many never get fulfilled, stalling growth. 12:17 Ace's franchisee mix allows for rapid, coordinated growth across territories. 13:39 Ace's founding team has deep experience rapidly growing franchises like Sky Zone. 15:10 Most franchises only open 4 units per year on average. Rapid growth is an immense challenge. 16:17 Sky Zone's growth of 50-60 units per year exemplifies franchising excellence. 18:50 Locking up markets with big development deals can stall growth for years. 20:27 Ace invests in proven franchisees to develop full markets over time. 21:07 Getting units open is exponentially harder than selling franchises. 22:21 Ace's team has deep expertise across all facets of franchise development. 23:56 Ace brought together the best talents from Sky Zone and beyond. 25:05 Ace replicated proven processes from Sky Zone, tailored for pickleball. 26:44 ️ Ace will keep innovating and improving - their goal is excellence. 28:22 ️ Emerging franchises are still smoothing out operations - perfection takes time. 31:10 Not all pickleball courts are created equal. Ace focuses on premium playing conditions. 32:33 Buying into an emerging franchise won't provide a fully turnkey operation. 33:43 Entertainment pickleball combines food and fun, bringing new players into the sport. 35:08 Ace focuses purely on pickleball for hardcore fans who play regularly. 36:29 Entertainment and dedicated pickleball facilities complement each other. 38:37 Weather drives fans into indoor pickleball facilities. 39:47 Pickleball has staying power because anyone can play for life, like bowling or golf. 41:40 25,000 new pickleball courts are needed to meet surging demand. 42:48 Taking new players by the hand is key to converting fans. Ace offers free beginner lessons. 44:39 Ace focuses on building community and a welcoming vibe. 46:15 People choose consistency over weather because of habits and reliability. 47:41 Dedicated facilities remove barriers to entry for beginners. 50:55 Pickleball spans generations, from grandparents to young kids. 52:35 Pickleball's future includes high school teams and NCAA scholarships. 53:46 Mixed gender NCAA pickleball would be culturally compelling. 54:29 Smart money is pouring into pickleball for the long haul. 55:42 ️‍️ Pickleball's strategy over athleticism evens the playing field across ages. 57:04 Learn more about Ace Pickleball Club at acepickleballclub.com and on Instagram.