The Art of the Tres and Tacos: Dissecting the Rise of Mexico as Pickleball’s New Mecca
Comedy duo and pro-players Jill Braverman and Kristen Walla break down the business and joy of the game on their hit podcast, This Pickleball Life
Pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in America, has officially gone international. This week on their hit comedy podcast This Pickleball Life, hosts Jill Braverman, pro pickleball player, and Kristen Walla recorded their show from Tres Palapas in Baja, Mexico to discuss the rise of pickleball tourism and real estate in Mexico.
The tone was lighthearted but insightful, as the hosts provided both business and gameplay analysis of this emerging hotspot for the sport. Here are some highlights from the buzzy episode:
1. Remembering Israel, the Birthplace of Their Love for the Game (3:05)
The hosts took a moment at the open of the show to reflect on their trip to Israel over a year ago, where they helped grow the sport by teaching pickleball in communities across the country. They formed close bonds with locals and discussed the memorable parts of the culture and region that left an impression. However, they expressed heartbreak over the current violence and their support for peace. Pickleball may have started on Bainbridge Island in Washington state, but its reach is clearly global.
2. Addressing the Breaking News of Steve Kuhn’s Resignation (9:24)
In a short statement, the hosts acknowledged the shocking news that Steve Kuhn, founder of Major League Pickleball, was stepping down from his role running the MLP Tour. They noted that the story is developing and they plan to cover it more fully on next week’s show. For now, they emphasized Kuhn’s immense contributions to shaping the sport into what it is today, through his facilitation of training, investing in growing the pro player talent pool, and more.
3. Is Mexico Pickleball’s Next Gold Rush? Interview with Sally Meecham, Co-Founder of Tres Palapas (12:15)
At the 12-minute mark, the hosts brought on Sally Meecham, co-founder and co-owner of Tres Palapas in Baja, for an illuminating discussion on the untapped potential for pickleball in Mexico. Meecham shared how she and her husband envisioned creating a destination spot in Mexico focused on community, vacationers, and pickleball 10 years ago. Though they planned to hire outside management, they learned quickly that their vision had to stay under their control.
Meecham explained how Mexico's large population, young workforce, and business-friendly infrastructure presents ideal conditions for pickleball to boom. She shared staggering statistics - their Baja location alone expects to hit 600,000 visits this year.
Regarding lessons learned, Meecham stressed that anyone hoping to capitalize on this opportunity needs to appreciate the challenges of hospitality, F&B, real estate, and community building - pickleball alone won't sustain a business. She believes Mexico can support exponential growth in pickleball tourism and development, citing their strong brand and symbolic status in the region as the pioneer. However, doing it right takes years of nurturing relationships, dialing in operations, and curating the special guest experience that builds loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing.
4. The Power of Mexico's Emerging Middle Class - By the Numbers (16:49)
Meecham highlighted some key statistics that demonstrate the potential pickleball upside:
- Mexico population of 128 million, with median age around 30 years old
- 7 million air travelers visiting Los Cabos area annually, making it the #1 U.S. destination
- She estimated Tres Palapas has directly or indirectly impacted real estate sales in the hundreds of millions in Baja already
The hosts praised Sally and her husband Paul for developing trusted partnerships in the community and changing the face of tourism in Baja. Meecham believes focusing on win-win relationships and giving back is crucial, and the reason she is willing to share her blueprint with interested investors who can help them scale.
5. Does Tres Palapas Have the "Trader Joe's Effect" on Real Estate? (21:50)
In commercial real estate, there is a well-known phenomenon nicknamed the “Trader Joe’s Effect” - whenever a Trader Joe’s grocery store opens in a new neighborhood, home values in the surrounding community increase 15% or more within two years.
The hosts likened Sally and Paul's Tres Palapas to having this same type of positive local impact (and then some) - drawing tourists who fall in love with Baja and making real estate purchases, influencing developers to add pickleball courts and amenities, and sparking related business opportunities. Meecham acknowledged they deserve credit for boosting growth and prosperity in the region thanks to their pickleball passion project.
6. Tip of the Day: How to Improve Your Transition Game and Kitchen Success Rate (39:50)
In the popular segment “Dear Jilly B - Tip of the Day,” the hosts shared an actionable drill to help pickleball players improve their transition game and ability to successfully advance to the kitchen.
They recognize common mistakes players make, either staying too deep in the court or rushing the kitchen haphazardly. The drill they recommend addresses these issues. It involves starting at the baseline and having your partner feed you balls. On each shot, take one step forward towards the kitchen, hitting controlled shots until you arrive forward. Don't charge ahead if the ball hasn't bounced - move up calmly between shots. This builds muscle memory for smooth kitchen transitions.
Additional tips included hitting down the middle to open court when opponents get separated, and being sure to stop moving your feet when the opponent makes contact, so you are balanced for your next shot. Mastering kitchen transitions is a hallmark of advancing from beginner to intermediate level.
In Summary
This episode of the acclaimed podcast This Pickleball Life gave listeners an entertaining recap of pickleball's expansion into Mexico, through the lens of two pros embedded in the action. With the perfect blend of business insights and practical tips, Jill and Kristen break down this growth opportunity for listeners in their distinctly lighthearted style. As the sport migrates south of the border, it's clear Mexico's enthusiasm for the game - and major friendship goals - is on par with the excitement in regions across the U.S.
YouTube Time Code List
3:05 Israel 9:24 Steve Kuhn Resigns 12:15 Is Mexico Pickleball’s next gold rush? Interview with Sally Meecham 16:49 By the Numbers (Mexico Edition) 21:50 Does Tres Palapas have the “Trader Joe’s” Effect 39:50 Tip of the Day/Dear JillyB: How to increase your kitchen arrival success rate
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