Indianapolis business partners bringing The Picklr to central Indiana – Inside INdiana Business

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and now two Hoosiers are making sure players can rally no matter what Indiana weather brings.

Ron Brock and Dave Gilreath founded wealth management company Sheaff Brock decades ago, and now have another project cooking in the kitchen.

“We bounce different ideas off one another from time to time,” Brock said. “[Dave] came in one day talking about pickleball…the demographics are really strong for pickleball. All ages can play, you get people in middle school or even younger to senior citizens playing. Everybody can play and have fun.”

The duo signed on with The Picklr, a Utah-based franchise, and plan to open six locations across central Indiana.

“Indiana has a good location for indoor pickleball because three, maybe four months of the year you play outside, but other than that they’d rather be inside,” Gilreath said. “People talk a lot while they’re playing and after playing. Probably the advantage [pickleball has] over golf is golf takes 5 hours. It takes a long time; whereas in pickleball, after an hour and a half, you’re tired.”

The Picklr Indianapolis Keystone Crossing club, located at 3810 E. 82nd St., will be the first location to open this fall. The former OfficeMax building will be transformed into 10 indoor pickleball courts, private event space, tournaments and more.

“I’m most excited to see the people having fun inside this building. Right now it’s just a big empty room, but I think that’s what I’m most excited about,” Gilreath said.

The Picklr’s second location will open in Noblesville at 9847 Cumberland Pointe Blvd, just north of 146th Street. It will have 19 courts.

First announced in May, the Noblesville location is a joint venture between former NFL quarterback Drew Brees’ BV Pickleball Clubs LLC and Pickle Indy LLC, which is owned by Gilreath and Brock.

Brees is not involved with the Keystone Crossing location.

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The Picklr members can play at any of the more than 200 clubs across the country. For updates on both Indiana locations, click here.

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