PGA Show Expands Racquet Sports with Celebrity Pickleball Pro-Am

The PGA Show is adding a larger Racquet Sports presence when it convenes in Orlando Jan. 20-23, 2026, creating a focused "show within a show" to serve golf clubs, multi-sport facilities and operators who are integrating pickleball, tennis and padel into their offerings. Organizers built the space around hands-on experiences: two active pickleball courts, a full padel court, live demos, coaching clinics and athlete-led sessions will sit alongside more than 60 exhibiting brands.

A marquee event will be the Celebrity Pickleball Pro-Am presented by Matt "Pickleball McNasty" Manasse on Wednesday, Jan. 21 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. That complimentary evening will feature appearances by sports personalities, NFL legends and pro athletes and is designed to showcase the spectacle and community energy pickleball can bring to a facility calendar.

The Racquet Sports Stage will offer free business programming tailored for facility operators, covering designing memorable pickleball experiences, revenue strategies, staffing standards, coaching for youth and club-director best practices. Brands planning to display equipment and gear include JOOLA Pickleball, Selkirk, Paddletek and adidas Racquet Sports, among others, creating an environment for hands-on product testing, facility planning and networking.

For club directors and facility managers the value is practical and immediate. The mix of clinics and product demos gives staff the chance to evaluate paddles, balls and court-build options in action rather than on spec. Sessions on revenue strategies and staffing standards address the nuts-and-bolts of turning casual interest into consistent court bookings, programming fees and seasonal camps. Coaching-focused clinics and athlete-led sessions offer templates for youth development programs and community outreach that drive member engagement.

Attending with a coach or operations lead will maximize the return on time: participate in on-court demos, ask vendors about installation and maintenance requirements, and take notes during business sessions to adapt strategies to your facility size and budget. The Pro-Am provides local marketing opportunities and a visible model for celebrity- or community-driven events that can boost member sign-ups and day-pass revenue.

The expanded Racquet Sports area signals that racquet sports are now core revenue and engagement drivers at many golf and club facilities. The PGA Show’s programming aims to give operators the tools to integrate pickleball programming, equipment and coaching into traditional golf and club offerings while testing products and building industry connections.