Indoor pickleball facility to open in Tampa

Pickleball Kingdom, a national indoor pickleball franchise, will soon open its latest unit in Tampa, the Arizona-based company says in a Thursday news release.

"Tampa is such a beautiful city," says CEO Ace Rodrigues, who founded the company in 2021. "Pickleball is very popular there, but they don't have options for the kind of indoor experience that we will bring."

Pickleball is a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, according to the company. Its national popularity has been growing, and Pickleball Kingdom says it has been at the "forefront of this movement."

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With good facilities and a professional coaching staff, Pickleball Kingdom has been popular among players of all skill levels, the company says.

The Tampa franchisee is Steve Poborka, the company says.

"My family and I love playing pickleball," says Poborka in a written statement. "Now I'm excited to share my love for the sport with the Tampa community."

The Pickleball Kingdom facility in Tampa will feature a large number of indoor courts, a shop and a lounge area for players and spectators, the company says. It will offer reservations, open play, leagues, lessons and tournaments.

The opening of a unit in Tampa was the next step for a company that has 12 planned indoor arenas from Texas to Tennessee.

"Tampa is a fantastic location for our newest facility," says Rob Streett, Pickleball Kingdom's chief operating officer, in the statement. "With Steve's MBA and as a corporate turnaround specialist, we're confident that Steve and his team will maintain the high standards of quality and customer satisfaction that Pickleball Kingdom is known for."