Racquet Sports Stage Spotlights Pickleball Retreat Design, Community, Revenue Strategies

The Racquet Sports Stage at the PGA Show emphasized practical, revenue-focused approaches to building pickleball retreats and resort programming, drawing operators, club managers and coaches to sessions on facility design, community building, coaching and monetization.

Programming from Jan. 20–23 at the Orange County Convention Center placed racquet sports front and center within a seven-stage schedule that included the Retreat Stage inside The Retreat destination. Sessions targeted the nuts and bolts retreat planners need: court layout and multi-sport programming, coach staffing and certification, daily programming and clinic design, and revenue-play models that integrate wellness and guest experiences. That focus signals a shift from casual court additions to curated guest products intended to sell stays and memberships.

Industry networking peaked on Jan. 21 with the Celebrity Pickleball Pro-Am, presented by Matt "Pickleball McNasty" Manasse. The 5-7 p.m. event paired celebrities and sports personalities with professional players for an on-court showcase and a networking happy hour. Celebrity appearances included NFL legends Calvin Johnson and Eric Decker and tennis pros Jesse Levine and Caroline Dolehide. The showcase combined promotional energy with practical connections between operators, coaches and suppliers looking to scale retreat offerings.

For retreat planners and resort operators the takeaways were concrete. Facility design discussions stressed adaptable court footprints and multisport surfaces that let venues host clinics, tournaments and wellness classes without major renovations. Coaching sessions highlighted coach-to-player ratios, packaged lesson plans and certification pathways to maintain consistent guest experiences. Revenue panels explored mixed models - day passes, lesson bundles, tournament fees and integrated spa or fitness packages - that turn courts into reliable profit centers rather than amenity afterthoughts.

Community building emerged as the connective tissue. Sessions examined member engagement through tiered programming, local-league partnerships and social events tied to celebrity or pro appearances. The Pro-Am demonstrated how star power can create publicity and invite local players into higher-value experiences while providing a networking platform for retreat marketers and booking managers.

If you run a club, resort or retreat product, start by auditing your court flexibility, coaching bench and how packages are priced and marketed. Use celebrity or pro events strategically to seed community interest, then convert that buzz into repeatable programming and revenue models. The PGA Show’s Racquet Sports agenda served up both inspiration and tactical steps for turning pickleball into a headline guest experience.