Pickleball’s explosive growth across the United States continues to attract investors, former athletes and major franchise operators as the sport rapidly expands beyond recreational spaces into large-scale professional indoor facilities.
The latest addition to America’s growing pickleball infrastructure will arrive in State College, where former Penn State football player Steve Smith plans to open a new indoor pickleball club later this year.
Smith, a 1999 Penn State graduate, will launch The Pickler State College in August at the former Big Lots location inside the Benner Pike Shops complex near Happy Valley Casino.
The 27,000-square-foot venue will feature nine pickleball courts alongside a pro shop and membership-based programming as pickleball participation continues surging across North America.
“Bringing The Picklr to State College, Pennsylvania means the community will benefit from the best-in-class indoor pickleball experience offered anywhere,” Smith said in a statement.
“I love everything about Penn State. To be back where I went to school and provide a world-class home for pickleball means the world to me.”
The club will operate daily between 6 am and 11 pm, with membership packages including unlimited open play, league and tournament access, organized programming and entry to Picklr locations across the United States.
The expansion reflects the extraordinary scale of pickleball’s current growth cycle in North America, where indoor franchise operators are rapidly increasing their footprints to meet demand from recreational and competitive players alike.
The Picklr said more than 500 new clubs and 5,000 courts are currently in development across the continent as cities race to build indoor facilities capable of supporting year-round play.
Over the past three years, pickleball has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, fueled by its accessibility, social format and growing professional ecosystem.
Former athletes, investors and sports entrepreneurs have increasingly entered the sector as the sport expands into commercial real estate, franchise models and dedicated indoor club networks.
Pennsylvania has also seen growing pickleball activity through local leagues, community courts and indoor venues, mirroring wider national trends as participation numbers continue rising across multiple age groups.
The State College project further highlights how pickleball’s expansion is increasingly being driven by large-format indoor facilities designed not only for recreation, but also for leagues, tournaments and long-term community engagement.
