Utah
Utah company turning big-big box spaces into pickleball hubs
The recent explosion in pickleball’s popularity belies the game’s surprisingly long history, having sprang to life some 59 years ago when three dads living on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, concocted the activity to stave off their kids’ summer boredom.
And while interest in the game simmered on a low burner for decades, it has since erupted into a full-fledged inferno, topping the annual list of fastest growing sports in the U.S. for the past three years.
According to a report this year by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, the sport experienced 51.8% growth from 2022 to 2023 and an incredible 223.5% surge in players since 2021. In just the last year, 10 million new players have jumped on the court for a game that’s a sort of hybrid between tennis and ping pong, played with a smooth, hard paddle and perforated plastic ball on a court about half the size used for tennis and a slightly lower net.
Pickleball’s horde of new devotees is also driving the need for more playing surfaces and while there were around 50,000 known courts at the end of 2023, according to USA Pickleball, industry watchers say the current inventory is at least 25,000 courts shy of demand.
And that’s where Ogden resident Jorge Barragan comes in.
Long wait led to a great idea
Barragan discovered the game in 2015 and quickly became a big fan and regular player. At the time, he was working in the software industry and finding time to play on weekends, evenings and even lunch breaks at work. Trying to sneak games in during the work day proved to be an increasingly challenging task, he said, as the wait times to get on a court got longer and longer.
“One day during the winter we were trying to get a lunch game in at the Farmington rec center,” Barragan recalled. “We got there and there were like 50 people waiting to get on a court. I thought, I really wouldn’t do this for anything else.”
Seeds sown by the frustration of the crowded courts would blossom into a business idea for Barragan, who is a first generation Mexican-American and the son of immigrants who embraced their own entrepreneurial spirit in opening a tortilla factory, which also formed his introduction to the work world.
Barragan partnered with his longtime friend and fellow pickleball fanatic Austin Wood to launch The Picklr, a business aiming to bring high-quality indoor pickleball facilities to players in Utah and across the country.
The early vision for Picklr was focused on filling the unmet need for courts by either building them from the ground up, like the multi-court facility in Kaysville or refurbishing existing buildings that met the right combination of square footage and layout to efficiently accommodate the 20-foot by 44-foot playing surfaces.
Thinking out of — and into — the box
Barragan and Wood discovered there’s a particular variety of commercial space that typically fits Picklr’s needs and can be found in thousands of communities across the country, thanks to the demise of some major retailers in the last few years — former big-box stores.
“In just about any community you can think of, there are big-box properties that have been sitting empty, sometimes for years,” Barragan said. “Former Bed, Bath and Beyond stores, old Staples, old Sears outlets … they are perfect for pickleball.”
While not all floor plans of vacated retailers hit the mark for reuse as pickleball facilities, many of them do and Barragan said the time and cost reductions for refurbishment versus new construction are significant.
“It’s a big-time savings over building from scratch which can take two years,” Barragan said. “Beside reducing construction time, it’s a lot cheaper, you can just lease the building and save the added big costs of HVAC, plumbing and other necessities. It just makes sense to go after big-box spaces.”
On top of the cost and efficiency advantages, Barragan said local governments are eager to partner with businesses that are interested in making investments in those dead and vacant spaces.
“Every city we’ve worked with are excited to do what they can to help reactivate these properties,” Barragan said. “Picklr renovations bring foot traffic, and new life, back to these old big-box locations.”
Discovering the magic of renovation helped propel Picklr’s growth and Barragan said he and his partner were in the process of developing seven Picklr outlets, mostly in Utah and one in Colorado, when they realized that to really accelerate Picklr’s expansion they might need to revamp their business model.
Turning to a franchising model, it turns out, was Picklr’s best track forward to meet the founders’ goal of building out a national presence.
Scaling the business
“Going the franchise route was the biggest decision we’ve made,” Barragan said. “Opening seven owner-operated locations was a lesson in understanding the challenges to scaling our business. From an operations standpoint, brand standpoint and capital standpoint it just made sense. And thinking about how to replicate myself and Austin and our passion to build this business, be a part of the community and grow pickleball.”
The pivot to a franchise approach didn’t relieve Picklr of its capital needs, however, and the company has been successful in drawing outside funding, some $16 million to date with a friends and family round followed by Series A and Series B efforts.
The backing has helped Picklr bring on a brand specialist and the company has added over 70 staff members to support its growing franchise operations, which, much like the sport itself, has been in turbo mode over the past year-and-a-half with 350 facilities in the pipeline.
For the love of the sport
Indiana resident and pickleballer Aaron Scholl is a veteran of the franchise business space, having worked as chief information officer for a national brand before joining the Picklr network as a regional developer. Scholl and a small group of investors, all Purdue University grads including former NFL superstar Drew Brees, own the Picklr development rights in three Midwestern states — Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.
Scholl said he and his family started playing pickleball during the pandemic and fell in love with the sport. When the hunt for a franchise opportunity began, Scholl said he and his partners were looking at a few opportunities related to pickleball court development but Picklr stood out among its competitors.
“Our interest was fueled by the sport itself and the lack of courts across the country, inside or out, to play on,” Scholl said. “Jorge and Austin got things going early, and actually had the concept before anyone really thought of it with pickleball dedicated facilities. Their updated brand look really sets Picklr apart. They’ve focused on creating a professional feel and professional experience. The sound baffles, lighting structures, Staples Center-like visuals. It’s a different, elevated feel.”
Scholl was also impressed by the network connections Picklr has established with national pickleball groups, relationships he noted set the table for bringing professional events to the facilities. Scholl and his partners expect to have 30 new Picklr locations in process by the end of the month and are scouting dozens of cities within their three-state territory for further expansion. Those plans include a ground-up build in Indianapolis that includes pro-level “show” courts and room for fans to watch top-tier players compete.
He also sees a huge upside potential for pickleball growth through sanctioning at the high school and college levels. Scholl noted that his group’s premier facility in Indianapolis shares the same home as the headquarters of the NCAA, a convergence that could raise awareness of the sport for the nation’s biggest college sports governing body.
“We’ve got 30 million people playing the sport,” Scholl said. “It’s gone far beyond fad status. We’re seeing high school state championship competitions and colleges giving away pickleball scholarships and a longer term goal of getting it into the Olympics. We love that whole junior aspect of the sport and the pipeline to professional play is only going to grow.”
That pipeline idea is baked into Picklr’s approach and embraced in the company’s motto, “Where Pros Are Made.” Those interested in trying out the game at a Picklr facility can get a 30-day pass for $30. Full adult memberships, available for $109 per month, give members unlimited court access at all Picklr facilities, unlimited league and competitive play, access to four pickleball clinics each month and four passes for guests.
During a Zoom interview, Barragan noted his own sunny countenance throughout the conversation about his company and the game that led to it.
“This is what my face looks like when I play,” Barragan said. “There’s always a smile. I love this game for the same reason everyone who plays it does. Because it’s fun.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2026
Media Contacts:
Louisa Tavlas
ltavlas@niskanencenter.org
Arnold Ventures
media@arnoldventures.org
Olin: Legislators, Cox, “providing law enforcement with additional resources to improve investigative outcomes” and keep Utah safe.
Washington, DC (March 26, 2026) — The Niskanen Center and Arnold Ventures applaud the Utah State Legislature and Governor Spencer Cox for passing new, bipartisan legislation designed to solve more crimes and provide support for crime victims. The bill, H.B. 137, passed both the Utah House of Representatives and the Utah Senate by wide, bipartisan margins and was signed into law by the Governor today.
“Making Utah as safe as possible requires ensuring law enforcement has every available resource to identify and arrest every criminal who preys upon innocent citizens,” said Jason Olin, senior government affairs manager for criminal justice at the Niskanen Center. “HB 137 establishes a Violent Crime Clearance Rate Fund that will provide law enforcement with additional resources to improve investigative outcomes. We thank Rep. Clancy and Sen. McKell for their leadership on this critical issue and Gov. Cox for signing this important piece of legislation.”
“Solving more violent crimes quickly can bring peace to victims and reduce the number of future victims,” said Kevin Ring, vice president of criminal justice advocacy at Arnold Ventures. “Would-be offenders need to know that they will be held accountable, and this law will make it more likely they will. We thank legislative leaders, including Rep. Clancy and Sen. McKell, and Gov. Cox for making sure Utah taxpayers and communities get the biggest public safety bang for their buck.”
H.B. 137, sponsored by Rep. Tyler Clancy (R-60) and Sen. Mike McKell (R-25), creates the Violent Crime Clearance Rate Fund to assist Utah law enforcement agencies in solving violent crimes. The fund will support hiring additional law enforcement officers and providing them with the tools they need to solve crimes. H.B. 137 includes provisions to ensure that resources from the fund reach departments of all sizes across both urban and rural jurisdictions. It will also help researchers conduct rigorous evaluations of the policies and practices that are most effective in solving crimes.
Utah is one of the safest states in the nation. But since 2019, the state’s violent crime clearance rate has hovered around 53%. That means nearly half of all violent crimes reported in Utah result in no arrest and no accountability. Even Utah’s 2024 homicide clearance rate of 74% — well above the national average — leaves more than 1 in 4 murders unsolved. Behind each of those unsolved cases is a victim whose family has been denied justice.
Olin, Ring, and other criminal justice experts are available for interview or comment.
More information on the Niskanen Center’s criminal justice policy work can be found here.
More information on AV’s criminal justice policy work can be found here.
###
The Niskanen Center advances an evidence-based agenda to reduce the social costs of crime and punishment. Our priority is to deter crime and reduce violence by building effective systems that deliver proportional punishment swiftly and predictably, and by ensuring law enforcement has the capacity to keep our neighborhoods safe.
Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. By focusing on systemic change and bipartisan policy reforms, AV works to improve the lives of American families, strengthen communities, and promote economic opportunity.
The Utah Jazz are clearly doing everything they can to keep their pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Something tells me that next season, we won’t see as many players on the injury report as this season. That means that the core of this Jazz team will play, and it’s clear they’re going to play well. The question is, of the current Jazz roster, who is going to be the most important player next season? Now, Utah may win the lottery and that could change this entire question. If Utah drafts someone like Darryn Peterson or AJ Dybantsa, that changes everything. That said, let’s just ignore the lottery and draft for the sake of this question. If we’re looking at the odds, it’s statistically a little more likely Utah doesn’t draft in the top four of the draft anyway.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
It’s been nearly 13 years since a pass-catcher on the Utah football team finished a season with at least 1,000 receiving yards.
Whether that streak reaches 14 remains to be seen, but if it does, it certainly won’t be due to a lack of talent.
“Y’all gonna see a different room. I promise y’all that,” said senior wideout Kyri Shoels after Tuesday’s practice session. “We hungry, and that’s really how it is. We don’t got too much to say.”
Shoels, who joins the Utes following a productive season at San José State, where he finished second on the team in receiving yards behind only the nation’s leader in that category, Danny Scudero, has to wait five more months to let his actions do all the talking on the playing field.
By that point, the buzz around Utah’s new wide receiver corps could be ineffable. At least, it seems to be trending that way through one week of spring practices.
“It’s a lot deeper than what it usually is,” said quarterback Byrd Ficklin of the Utes’ wide receiver room. “There’s ballplayers all over.”
Media sessions after spring practices are often a prime setting for coaches and players to hype up one another while the stakes are still low as far as public perception goes. But based on the production and skillset of some of Utah’s newest pass-catchers, there’s reason to assume the praise they’ve received early on in spring practice is more than just good public relations at work.
Take Braden Pegan, for example. The California native is fresh off serving as the No. 1 option at Utah State, where he recorded 60 receptions for 926 yards and five touchdowns, including three games with 100-plus receiving yards, and boasts the size at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, to compete at the highest level in the Big 12. Also, he reunites with his Aggies offensive coordinator, Kevin McGiven, and the wide receiver coach who previously recruited him in high school, Chad Bumphis.
That all sounds good on paper, but what speaks even louder volumes about Pegan’s impact on the team is the fact he’s already earned a spot on the team’s leadership council, which is voted on by the players.
“That’s one of those dudes that you wish you had 20 of them,” said head coach Morgan Scalley of Pegan. “He’s such a good kid, smart football player, athletic, can jump out of the gym. We’re excited to have him.”
Pegan isn’t the only one helping Utah’s returners understand the ins and outs of the team’s new offense. Shoels, who brings an understanding of McGiven’s pass-friendly system with him from San José State, where McGiven served as the wide receivers coach during Shoels’ first season with the Spartans, aids in that transition process as well.
The 6-foot-tall Las Vegas native also possesses an element of speed that Utah’s wide receiver room was missing last season. Coming off a season in which he recorded 13 yards per reception on 59 catches (768 yards total), Shoels should get a lot of passes thrown his way as the potential No. 2 option behind Pegan.
That said, there’s a group of returners vying for meaningful playing time this season as well. Larry Simmons and Creed Whittemore are two players who ended the 2025 campaign on positive notes; Tobias Merriweather, the 6-foot-5 senior who transferred in from Cal a year ago, has an opportunity to strengthen his rapport with Devon Dampier heading into his second season with the team. Daidren Zipperer could work his way into the rotation as well after missing a majority of last season due to injury.
Time will tell whether Mana Carvalho, Utah’s primary kick returner in 2025, and Ricky Johnson, a sophomore transfer from Mississippi State, play their way onto the field in 2026. It’s worth noting the departures of the team’s top three receivers from last season — Ryan Davis, Dallen Bentley and JJ Buchanan — have opened up more playing opportunities for returners and newcomers alike.
With only so many spots to go around, though, there’s not enough room to cram every pass-catcher Utah has into the main rotation. It’s not the worst problem Bumphis and Scalley could have on their plate, though it does make spring and fall camp essential in determining the pecking order for the regular season.
“Everybody, every practice is ready to go,” Pegan said. “We’re all locked in. It’s exciting. I can’t wait to see what everyone does this year.”
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