Rapidly growing pickleball franchise chooses Sarasota for Florida debut

An indoor pickleball franchise is expanding, with its first Florida location set to open in Sarasota in mid-December.

Dill Dinkers will be located off Tallevast Road near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Spanning 27,000 square feet, the facility will feature 11 fenced courts, a ball machine, dinking court and pro shop. In a nod to Sarasota’s connection to the circus, it will also include social spaces called the Trapeze Triangle and Three Ring Circus, as well as a viewing area with bleachers known as the Grandstand.

The new pickleball center will offer an air-conditioned location for open play, round robins, clinics, private and semi-private lessons, leagues and rentals for private events.

Tim and Heather Dull, a husband-and-wife team of former equity analysts with previous franchise experience, are spearheading the development of Dill Dinkers in Sarasota. The couple, avid pickleball players, have committed to developing nine other Dill Dinkers locations throughout Sarasota County and surrounding areas, where they saw a need for high-quality, indoor pickleball courts.

“This club will be a game-changer for the pickleball community and we are eager to introduce Dill Dinkers to Sarasota this winter – a season when courts are especially in demand with the influx of snowbirds," Heather Dull says in a statement. “Our goal is to create a welcoming environment where those interested in pickleball can enjoy the sport, connect with others and have access to a club filled with state-of-the-art courts, including two championship-sized show courts with viewing areas and entertaining amenities.”

Photo by Elizabeth King

A group of investors has collaborated with the Dulls in developing Dill Dinkers in the region: longtime friends of the Dulls Brian and Chrissy Krupnisky and Mike Mulligan, who recently connected with the couple over their shared love of pickleball, the release states. 

The first Dill Dinkers location opened in 2022 in Columbia, Maryland, where the company is based. It currently has nine locations operating in the United States, with more than 380 in development, according to its website.

To open a single-club franchise, operators need $100,000 liquid and a net worth of $500,000, and for a regional franchise, the requirements are $250,000 liquid and a net worth of $1 million. 

Dill Dinkers will be at 500 Tallevast Road in Sarasota.