by Abigail Richards
The family piled into their minivan on another Saturday afternoon, decked out in athleisure and sprinkled with sporty excitement. The family of five headed to an activity that every single one of them can enjoy; a game that has been booming in popularity the past three years. Pickleball, America's fastest growing sport, has seemed to cause this same kind of family tradition across the country’s suburbs. Continuing its explosive rise, homeowners, tennis enthusiasts, parents, and residents are finding themselves nestled in the new occult.
The surge of pickleball, a fusion of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, has been nothing short of explosive. Over a million Americans have taken up paddles in the last two years, drawn to its inclusive nature and easy accessibility. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, there's been a staggering 159% surge in pickleball participation since 2020, reaching 8.9 million players in 2022. While the origins of its name remain unknown, people speculate it is behind the founder’s family dog, named Pickles, or a reference to a "pickle-boat" in a race.
Despite the mystery, there's no denying the impact it's having on American culture. Initially popular in retirement communities for its social and fitness benefits, the game skyrocketed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Celebrities like Tom Brady have championed the sport, creating increased media attention. Pickleball games are typically accompanied by lively banter, and have a faster pace than tennis. As pickleball's popularity soars, tennis players are encountering a shifting landscape, with courts increasingly repurposed for the booming sport.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has been made aware and is collaborating with parks and recreation departments to ensure both sports can coexist harmoniously. But, a lot of players wish to play on courts specifically for pickleball, since the dimensions differ from an original tennis court, as made law by the International Pickleball Foundation. So, such departments have been bombarded with people looking to play within limited space and resources.
“About a year ago, I was trying to play pick-up games everyday at the tennis courts our local sports association offered. It was almost impossible to not wait more than an hour for a court- which mind you, was only set up for tennis- until the sun went down. There were a lot of times that I didn't even get to end up playing because of it being first-come-first serve or crappy weather. I would just go home,” Current Dill Dinkers employee and longtime pickleball fanatic, John O’Connell shares.
Celebrating its one year anniversary this past November, Maryland's first indoor pickleball facility, Dill Dinkers, has caught the pickleball wave to becoming a national franchise in less than a year. Just a year prior to opening their business, Will and Denise Richards got the idea for Dill Dinkers by attending an indoor tournament.
The founders of Dill Dinkers Pickleball, Denise and Will Richards
In the frigid Winter of 2021, the new pickleball fanatics, Will and Denise Richards, found themselves in a converted horse arena in the Pennsylvania boondocks. It was not the typical setting for a sports sensation, hence the lack of heat and proper amenities. Yet, despite these apparent setbacks, the place was flooded with players of all kinds.
“When we were there I thought to myself, damn, if they could do this well with this bare minimum facility-we could definitely do it better,” Denise recalls, sitting in her neon orange desk at the original facility in Columbia, Maryland. The venue is filled with accents of kelly green and safety cone orange which echo their signature brand colors. “I mean, it was the dead of Winter and there was no heat, no bathrooms- nothing. But people didn't even mind because they are just so passionate about the sport.”
It was in that unassuming arena that the seeds of a vision were sown. The Richards, Will and his wife, Denise, stood witness to the occult that pickleball ignited. It was a scene that left an indelible mark on them, sparking contemplation about the untapped potential of this emerging sport. That vision stands strong in the form of the Dill Dinkers Pickleball franchise today. With the first venue opening in Fall 2022, it is nestled in a 30,000-square-foot light-industrial complex at 9179 Red Branch Road, Columbia. This facility is a testament to the Richards' commitment to not just play the game, but to revolutionize the way it's experienced. With five locations currently standing across the DMV, it has been set in stone to soon open franchises across the country.
“My husband Will and I only became avid pickleball players in the Summer of 2021, and as we moved into the Fall and Winter, we struggled to find places to play along with others,” says Denise Richards, Dill Dinkers Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer.
With a career spanning four decades and a knack for turning passion into purpose, Will Richards is the founder and upcoming entrepreneur in the industry of pickleball. From the Air Force to the boardrooms of Domino's Pizza, and now at the head chair of Dill Dinkers Pickleball, his journey is nothing short of exceptional.
“Opening this facility and franchising it was a way to share our love of pickleball with not just the community but even wider. It offers a functional place to play year-round,” said William Richards. “We aspire to create an atmosphere that inspires fun, learning, healthy competition, and lifelong friendships.” recalls Will Richards, proudly sporting his company's merchandise with a wide grin. “Pickleball is such an accessible and fun sport. It can be a great way to bring people together, for teambuilding or celebration,” said Will Richards. “We can include beginner lessons and paddles with any event, so participants can learn the sport when they arrive, and no one is left out of the fun.”
Will Richards sits in his original Dill Dinkers facility located in Columbia, MD
The story of Dill Dinkers is not just one of bricks and plaster, but of community coming together and making aspirations come true. It is a love story for pickleball. The Richards, once avid players themselves, understood the struggle of finding suitable venues for the sport in the colder months. Their facilities are soon to span across the country. They all include a cafe, and cutting-edge reservation systems, but it is not just a business venture. It's an offering to a community looking for a place to come together, compete, learn, and forge long friendships.
“Dill Dinkers is not just a facility, but a hub for learning and play. We have a capacity to host up to 300 players everyday. The potential of Dill Dinkers goes beyond just the walls since it offers a great franchising potential to spread the joy of the sport,” says William Richards.
Further expanding its kingdom, Dill Dinkers Pickleball is setting up to become a vibrant national trend, just like the general sport of pickleball is now. It's not just a facility; it's a daydream come true, a passion pursued, and a foundation for a tight knit community. At the head of this extraordinary venture stands the entrepreneur couple Denise and Will Richards, whose vision and determination continue to shape the landscape of pickleball all across the country, one paddle swing at a time.
Players gather after a game on one of Dill Dinkers home courts
Will advises, “The biggest thing is you just have to make the decision to do it. When we started Dill Dinkers a lot of people came up to us and said that they may have wanted to do it, but they didn't because they were not brave enough to try it. So, my biggest advice to people would be if you have an idea and it has some merit, and it qualifies as something that people want- to try it. And if you don't try it you'll always regret it.”
Sources
"Pickleball Sees Unprecedented Growth, Will Require 25,000 Courts Built & $900 Million Investment to Keep Up with Demand." (SFIA) Sports and Fitness Industry Association. Available at: https://sfia.org/resources/pickleball-sees-unprecedented-growth-will-require-25000-courts-built-900-million-investment-to-keep-up-with-demand/
"Pickleball: The Fastest Growing Sport in the Country, Moving Indoors." Georgia Public Broadcasting. Available at: https://www.gpb.org/news/2023/08/19/pickleball-the-fastest-growing-sport-in-the-country-moving-indoors
Pickleball vs Tennis - Differences and Similarities. Available at: https://www.pickleheads.com/guides/pickleball-vs-tennis
International Pickleball Foundation. Pickleball Official Rulebook. Section 2: Courts. Available at: https://irp.cdn-website.com/deb48cb0/files/uploaded/2022-IFP_USA-P.pdf
Dill Dinkers Pickleball. Available at: https://dilldinkers.com
Interviewees
William Richards | 4107393443 | will@dilldinkers.com
Denise Richards | 4108681589 | drichards@dilldinkers.com
John O’Connell | 3537347630
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