Building Communities, Not Just Courts: Rene Prats discusses facility growth, community building, and the future of pickleball
By Carl Foster • June 24, 2026 • 10 min read
With the 4th CourtReserve World Pickleball Convention in Las Vegas just weeks away, our People Shaping Pickleball conversation this week features one of the event’s most respected and experienced speakers, Rene Prats.
Prats brings more than 40 years of business leadership and franchise experience in the hospitality industry, including executive roles with Tony Roma’s, Luther’s BBQ, Rally’s Hamburgers, Papa Johns Pizza, and Islas Canarias Restaurants.
Within pickleball, he has played a key role in Diadem’s growth, helping launch Florida’s first major indoor pickleball facility, the Diadem Pickleball Center in Coconut Creek. Since then, he has expanded the concept to Jensen Beach and has been instrumental in the development of The Fort in Fort Lauderdale, one of the most recognized pickleball destinations in the world.
A frequent speaker at the World Pickleball Conference, Prats has shared insights on facility development, operations, hospitality, and community building at events in Las Vegas, Naples, and Palm Beach over the past five years. Earlier this year, he was honored with the DUPR 2026 Golden Pickle Business Award.
Prats will return to the World Pickleball Conference on July 17 at Chicken N Pickle in Henderson, Nevada, where he will deliver a keynote presentation and introduce PlayerU, a new app designed to help players develop skills, track progress, and navigate their pickleball journey.
“Ultimately, we are not simply building pickleball facilities. We are building communities.”— Rene Prats, Head of Development, Diadem Sports
Building FL’s First Indoor Pickleball Destination
CARL: Rene, talk about your introduction to pickleball and how your first indoor Diadem Pickleball Center at Broward College became a reality?
RENE: “Everything we do is God led and we are grateful.
My introduction to pickleball came through recognizing the incredible sense of community the sport creates. In early 2022, my longtime friend Jeff Roschman and I saw an opportunity to bring high-quality indoor pickleball facilities to Florida.
Through a creative partnership facilitated by our broker Larry Gautier, we were able to transform a former Broward College auditorium and basketball arena into what became Florida’s first major indoor pickleball facility. The building featured 60-foot ceilings, excellent lighting, and outstanding acoustics, ideal characteristics for indoor play.
Most importantly, we assembled an incredible team that continues to serve our members today. For the past three years, Gene DeVito has led the facility as Director of Pickleball while also serving as our National Program Director. Looking back, that first facility validated our belief that players wanted a premium indoor experience focused on community, programming, and hospitality.”
The Diadem Difference
CARL: When did Diadem, a longtime tennis company, start integrating pickleball paddles, balls, apparel, and shoes into its product portfolio? Is this an important part of DPC facilities?
RENE: “In 2020, Diadem got involved in pickleball and by 2021 went full throttle. Evan Specht, one of the co-founders with an engineering background, started producing paddles to much fanfare.
The pro shops play an important role in promoting the products at our facilities and providing quality equipment that helps players enjoy and elevate their game.”
The Fort & the Evolution of the Facility Model
CARL: With the success of Florida’s first indoor pickleball facility, you then partnered with The Fort, home to the world’s first pickleball stadium, 43 courts, a restaurant, pro shop, APP Tour events, and other amenities. How has this model differed from your first indoor facility and what are the pros and cons of both?
RENE: “Brad Tuckman, Founder of The Fort, came to Jeff and Robert Roschman with the idea for The Fort and they said yes right away based on research I had done in early 2022. Brad and I compared notes in 2025 and realized we had independently developed very similar concepts adapted specifically for pickleball.
Brad thought of every detail at The Fort and negotiated a great partnership with the City of Fort Lauderdale. It has truly been a win-win scenario.”
Why Some Clubs Thrive While Others Struggle
CARL: You have spoken at several World Pickleball Conferences about the success of indoor pickleball facilities and why others have struggled, been sold, or closed. What has been your secret to success?
RENE: “Success begins with real estate. You can be an outstanding operator, but if you make a poor real estate decision, it becomes very difficult to succeed long-term.
At Diadem, we are extremely disciplined when evaluating opportunities. Our real estate committee includes Michael Manglardi, Evan Specht, Jeff Roschman, Robert Roschman, Brian Smith, and myself. Every member must support a project before we move forward. Larry Gautier serves as our exclusive broker and has played a key role in identifying opportunities.
Beyond real estate, our culture is our greatest differentiator. We operate with a “Yes, what’s the question?” mentality. We emphasize hospitality, positivity, and genuine relationships. Our mission is to create environments where people feel welcomed, safe, and connected.
We intentionally limit membership density to approximately 25 members per court, allowing us to maintain a high-quality experience. Our professionals are knowledgeable and engaging, our programming is designed around player development and enjoyment, and our staff makes a point to know members by name. Ultimately, we are not simply building pickleball facilities. We are building communities.”
“Our goal isn’t simply to open the most locations. Our goal is to create the most trusted pickleball communities in every market we enter.”— Rene Prats, Head of Development, Diadem Sports
Growth Plans & New Markets
CARL: With your years of franchise ownership and business experience, do you see franchising in the future for Diadem Pickleball Centers? What is your vision for growth?
RENE: “We will have 14 locations by the first quarter of 2028. We have two locations open in Coconut Creek and Jensen Beach. Then, Emerald Coast is opening on June 25th and Sanford will be opening in July. Those will be followed by Wellington, Palmetto Bay and Winter Garden in 2026. 2027 will lead off with South Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, and a couple more surprises in Miami. plus Naples in 2028. We also have a location opening in early 2027 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Our goal isn’t simply to open the most locations. Our goal is to create the most trusted pickleball communities in every market we enter.”
Programming, Community, and Member Experience
CARL: How important are community, social events, leagues, and corporate outings to your programming?
RENE: “We believe in programming to what our guests desire. Listening is a lost art in our world, and we do our best to listen and deliver a great experience. Leagues are a staple as are cardio clinics, lessons and tournaments. Open play in our facilities always has a pro involved and an environment that is welcoming to all.”
The Role of DUPR & Player Development
CARL: How important is a rating system like DUPR to your facilities and membership experience?
RENE: “DUPR is the leading system in the World with over 1 million users and very reliable to set up leagues, tournaments and Open Plays in all clubs. We are also using a new app called PlayerU which gives a skills assessment for the beginner player to learn and grow on their journey. The face of PlayerU is 7-time US Open Champion and Hall of Famer Kyle Yates. When the players get to any club, they are not intimidated and the club can place them in the right clinic or lessons etc….after going through PlayerU.”
Competition and Industry Growth
CARL: Do you see a saturation of facilities opening or is competition healthy for the sport?
RENE: “Competition is healthy because it helps to grow awareness of the sport and encourages operators to continually improve. However, I do believe the industry is entering a phase where operational excellence will matter more than simply opening courts.
For several years, many facilities operated under a ‘build it and they will come’ mentality. As the market matures, successful clubs will need strong programming, hospitality, member engagement, sound real estate decisions, and disciplined financial management.
I believe pickleball’s growth remains in the early innings globally, but the next generation of successful facilities will be those that focus on creating exceptional player experiences rather than simply adding more courts.
We operate on the basis that our competition is in the mirror, and we must continue to improve daily.”
“We operate with a ‘Yes, what’s the question?’ mentality.”— Rene Prats, Head of Development, Diadem Sports
Global Expansion and Future Sports Integration
CARL: What are your global plans and do you foresee incorporating padel or other racquet sports?
RENE: “At Diadem, we will explore global growth of complexes through our distribution network. The FORT is planning to add four Padel Courts in 2026 or early 2027.”
Introducing PlayerU
CARL: Finally, you’ve introduced a new app called PlayerU. How will it fit into your business plans and the broader pickleball ecosystem?
RENE: “PlayerU will set new players up for a curated journey to learn the rules and skills of the game at their own pace. PlayerU is in the App Store and Google Store as of June 19th and it’s free for all users. In 60 days a $5.99 paid version will come out with AI models then will be followed by a pro model to compare the players to pro coaches on all skills.
Clubs will be able to place players in the right clinics, open plays and lessons to continue to improve their confidence and game.
My Co-Founder Edwin Rivera and I have been blessed to collaborate with some great leaders in the pickleball ecosystem on PlayerU. We have Pickleball Central integrated to PlayerU and powering our store within the app and handling all logistics. PlayByPoint, Playsight, and Pickleheads are also collaborating with PlayerU.
DUPR is integrated to PlayerU and allows our users to sign up for their DUPR ID as they enter our app. We will be collaborating with many more industry leaders. Kyle Yates is the face of PlayerU and plays a major role on the coaching front. Another veteran pickleball pro, Ryan Sherry is also part of the coaching team.
We are truly blessed by God to have such a strong team of collaborators.”
Looking Ahead
Few individuals have had a greater impact on the growth of indoor pickleball facilities in Florida than Rene Prats. From helping launch the Diadem Pickleball Center concept to partnering on The Fort and overseeing a 14-location expansion plan, Prats has remained focused on one principle: community first.
That same philosophy guides PlayerU, his latest venture designed to help new players learn the game while helping clubs connect them with the right programming, lessons, leagues, and events.
Attendees of the 4th CourtReserve World Pickleball Convention can hear more from Prats during his July 17 keynote at Chicken N Pickle in Henderson, Nevada, where he will discuss facility development, community building, and technology’s role in pickleball’s future.
About Carl Foster
Carl Foster is the Chairman of the World Pickleball Conference and the CEO of Foster Events Group, LLC, where he specializes in the production and management of high-profile sports and entertainment events. With over 50 years of experience in broadcasting, fundraising, and event leadership, he produces Inside WORLD Pickleball and serves as a lead moderator for industry summits. He is a central figure in the professionalization of pickleball, connecting technology experts, organizational leadership, and the player community to elevate the sport’s presence on a global scale.
Read the full magazine issue! Click below, then click on the X in the lower bar to enjoy a full screen view!
