Pickleball Craze: Coast-to-Coast Expansion To Hit Bakersfield and Tampa

PickleRage is taking its indoor pickleball concept into two new markets, announcing planned clubs in Bakersfield, California, and Tampa, Florida. The expansion will establish the brand’s first California location while adding a third club in Florida, extending its presence in a market the company identifies as one of the country’s leading pickleball markets. The announcements are part of PickleRage’s broader effort to establish neighborhood indoor clubs that can support year-round play and community activity.

In Bakersfield, Daniel Marlowe and Jon Knutson will own and operate PickleRage’s first California club. The location will introduce the brand to Kern County and represents its first step into the West Coast market. The franchisees said they want the club to provide players across skill levels with a place to learn, compete and connect. PickleRage has not yet announced the specific Bakersfield address or an anticipated opening date, with those details expected as development progresses.

Eric and Grania Garnighian will lead the Tampa expansion, which will become PickleRage’s third Florida location. The planned club is intended to give Tampa-area players an indoor setting for year-round play, an important part of the brand’s operating model in markets where weather can affect outdoor recreation. The company said the club will add to its Florida presence while serving a local pickleball community that it describes as growing and active. Specific location and opening information for the Tampa club has also yet to be announced.

PickleRage’s clubs are built around more than court access. The company says its locations feature professional-grade CushionX courts, lighting and sightlines designed for play, along with dedicated spaces where players can gather away from the courts. Programming spans beginner lessons, open play, leagues, tournaments and clinics, allowing clubs to serve customers with different levels of experience. The membership model is another part of that structure, with PickleRage offering members benefits such as lower court costs, priority reservations and access to members-only events and socials.

For franchise organizations operating recurring membership programs across multiple locations, Gorilla Dash offers a Memberships and Subscriptions feature that can help organize customer plans and recurring services within a broader franchise operation. As PickleRage continues adding clubs, the Bakersfield and Tampa developments will give the brand two additional markets in which to apply its indoor, community-focused model. The company said it will announce further details on both locations, including sites and anticipated opening timelines, as development moves forward.