Should You Invest in a Pickleball Centre? What the Data Really Says

With pickleball’s explosion across the country, the investment question is louder than ever: Is now the right time to build a pickleball centre?

The answer: yes, if you know what you’re doing.

Across hundreds of facilities, one pattern repeats itself with near-perfect consistency: the successful centres are the ones with a clear USP. Whether it’s premium amenities, private-court exclusivity, or a community-first atmosphere, the winners know exactly what they stand for. The closures and strugglers? Almost always the result of blurry positioning and poor value design.

New investors often fall into two traps:

1. No USP

Trying to “just build courts” in a competitive market is a fast track to becoming forgettable.

2. Cost-cutting in the wrong places

First-time owners often save RM0.05 in the wrong corner while bleeding RM1 in value. Toilet quality, seating flow, spacing, lighting comfort, surface choice. These aren’t costs, they’re growth engines. And underinvesting here kills word-of-mouth.

On the flip side, the upside is enormous. Facilities that switch to digital operations often see immediate jumps in revenue. A hall doing RM70k manually can hit RM100k+ overnight when plugged into a platform with half a million ready players.

Market fundamentals remain strong:

1. Demand is still surging, especially in peak hours.
2. Supply has stabilised, reducing oversaturation risks.
3. Corporates, youth, and retirees are all entering at once.
4. Repurposed spaces provide lean-cost, high-yield opportunities.

The next 12–18 months will be a shaping period. Weak facilities will phase out; strong, thoughtful concepts will flourish. The market rewards quality, clarity, and smart execution, not shortcuts.

Pickleball isn’t just a sport right now, it’s a business wave. And those who enter with intention, not impulse, will own the future of it.

This article is an excerpt from our interview with Aaron Sheah. Watch the full video here
Photos via Instagram by @cfongraphy.