Thrive
Pickleball Kingdom is coming to Pinellas Park
A national indoor pickleball franchise will open a new location in Pinellas Park in 2025.
The 40,125 sq. ft. Pickleball Kingdom facility, at 7300 US Highway 19 N, will have 14 courts.
For franchisees Steve Poborka and Kerrie Forrester, the Pinellas Park club is a way to pursue their love of the game and engage with the community.
The couple started to play pickleball together in October 2023. Soon after, they decided to open up their own club, and signed a franchisee contract with Pickleball Kingdom in January 2024.
They want to help grow the sport locally.
“The biggest thing is we really want to share this with the folks that have never played,” Poborka explained to the Catalyst. Although there will be refreshments available, including beer and wine, “We want our place to be really geared towards pickleball, so whether you’re a beginner or you’re playing on the pro circuit, you’re going to want to play at our club.”
Guests will be able to take pickleball classes, participate in tournaments and league plays. There will be three membership options, Poborka explained.
Single players can purchase an all-inclusive Ace membership, which will offer free reservations and open play.
The Pinellas Park location will also have a teams package, designed for couples, as well as a family package, which allows free play for two adults and their children.
Individuals can come to the club and play without a membership as well. They will be able to rent courts and participate in open play.
Additionally, all 14 courts will have their own cameras to record game play. Guests will be able to download the videos to analyze their performances, Poborka said.
The owners have plans to work alongside community partners and host events at the club as well.
As for the location, Poborka explained that it took a lot of research. “It was a very tough process just to find a spot that would facilitate the business,” he said. Poborka and his wife researched demographics in the area, as well as traffic statistics.
As soon as Poborka and Forrester saw the space on US 19, they had a good feeling about it.
“When we drove into the parking lot, it was like this aura just appeared. We just knew it was the right place,” he said.
While a variety of indoor pickleball clubs have recently opened in Pinellas County, including Pickle & Pint and Dink House Pickleball, Poborka and Forrester are not concerned about oversaturation.
“I think it’s great for the sport of pickleball for clubs to be opening up,” Poborka added. “It’s only going to help drive everyone’s business.”
He believes the pickleball trend is just getting started.
“I feel like we’re not even at the peak yet. When this game started out, it was mostly elderly people playing and then the younger folks got to playing it, and now the juniors are playing it.”
The owners, who originally intended to open up the club this summer, just received their permit to begin construction work in the space. Poborka said that they will start the process within the next couple of weeks.
As for future franchises, Poborka and Forrester hope to open a second club.
“We still have our eye on the Tampa Bay area,” he said. “We still would like to open up a club on the other side of the bridge because there’s just so much opportunity on that side.”
Arizona-based Pickleball Kingdom began operations in 2022 and now has franchise locations in 26 states.
