2024 Agenda

9.2 Billion and Counting: The racquet sport industry's boom – why now?

It is said that following the recent boom, the global racquet sports industry has a valuenof $9.2B. With tennis experiencing a 33% boom in participation since 2020, pickleball pickleball participation growing by 59% over the last three years and padel widely accepted as the world's fastest-growing sport with over 25 million players, not to mention squash's recent addition to the Olympic Games, times are good for the racquets indusyry. But why now?

Opening Keynote - Coming February 2024

The Ultimate Pickleball Panel

Between them, the PPA and APP have 40 pickleball tour events in 2024 (the PPA 25 of those and the APP 15, but who’s counting?). nAnd with the recent announcement of the PPA’s merger with the MLP, things are spicing up on the pickleball front. Who said we weren’t the competitive type?! So, for the first time ever, we’re excited to welcome the PPA and APP on stage together, going head to head to crunch some of the biggest topics in America’s fastest-growing sport. PPA’s CEO Connor Pardoe will be joined by APP’s Chief Marketing Officer Tom Webb, but as if that’s not enough, they will be flanked by the CEO of USA Pickleball, Mike Nealy to debate some of the proverbial elephants in the pickleball room, as this widely-feted sport continues to turn heads from coast to coast. And who else to moderate proceedings than the Founder of leading pickleball media outlet The Dink himself, Thomas Shields. Better get ready for this one!

Tom Webb

Chief Marketing Officer

Association of Pickleball

Thomas Shields

Founder

The DInk

Mike Nealy

CEO

USA Pickleball

Bryce Morgan

President

PPA Tour

Anne Worcester

Strategic Advisor

Major League Pickleball

Welcome to RacquetX! Special Guest Q&A with Amanda Sobhy

Amanda Sobhy

Professional Squash Player

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Robyn Duda

Managing Director

Racquetx

The Behind the Racquet Story: Managing mental wellbeing in an always-on era

Modern-day sport is demanding. Racquet sports and their independent nature are demanding. Yet, sport is widely viewed as one of the best platforms to taking a front foot approach to mental wellbeing. Behind the Racquet has been at the cutting edge of mental health, developing content and helping players behind the scenes. In this session, former ATP tennis player and outspoken mental wellbeing advocate Noah Rubin gets to the nub of the issues.

The Changing Landscape of Club Management

Scott McCulloch

CEO

Cliffdrysdale

Andres Robelo

Founder and CEO

PlaybyPoint

Jorge Barragan

CEO and Co-Founder

The Picklr

Jonathan Fralick

National Directors Racquet Sports

Invited Clubs

Design and Build: What goes into creating the new wave of racquet sports facilities?

Builders, constructors and designers know the secrets of success for building racquet sports facilities. No stone is left unturned - metaphorically or literally - in the quest to build the perfect padel court or facility. In this session, we learn from experts that know just what is required to achieve the highest standards of design, construction and maintenance for both indoor and outdoor court facilities.

Eric Loftus

President

Northeast Padel

David Lasota

President & Founder

The Tennis Design Studio

Todd Dettor

Vice President

Fast-Dry Courts, Inc.

TIm Gerrits

Executive Vice President

GMB

Peter Francesconi

Editor

Racquet Sports Industry

"The Death of Individual Sports - what does the future of the racquets industry look like?"

While the racquet sports' popularity surging in the last few years, there is another dimension to consider: the rapid rise of team sports. Perhaps it's why Pickleball, Padel, Golf are thriving. And with this shift increasing value for individual ahtletes, how this will affect the racquet industry? How will digital innovation be a part of this movement? And how will sponsors and brands benefit? The change is here - and as Profluence Founder Andrew Petcash explains, let's embrace it.

Andrew Petcash

Founder

Profluence

The Athlete Brand: How the modern athlete is building their personal brand from scratch

Athletes are sport’s biggest asset. The heroes and heroines that make the everyday person go and play sport, watch sport and love sport. Athletes have the ability to cultivate their own mega brand like few others, especially today where every follower builds value. Here, professional padel player Ana Cortiles and professional pickleball players Hurricane Tyra Black discuss how to build you own distinct brand, how best to engage with brands and followers, and where the opportunities lie.

Investing in the Future of Racquet Sports

With the racquets sector proving such an attractive lure for investment, how do youndecide where to put down your cash? New, insurgent racquet sports, new technologies, new businesses, and brands all make the decision harder than yesteryear.nnIn this powerhouse panel, you'll hear firsthand what investors, clubs, and brands are doing now and what you need to know to make the best bets possible for the future.

Litquidity

Founder and Investor

Litquidity

Waylon Ian Chin

CEO / Co founder and Managing Partner

Bond Life Club and First Serve Partners

Zach Petett

US Content Director

Money 2020

David Pillsbury

CEO

Invited Clubs

New activations platforms for the racquet industry: Tournaments, Events and Brand activations. How to engage with a new audience in an over segmented market

Gen Z and Gen Alpha are cut differently from yesterday’s audiences. Watching a whole match doesn’t wash with the new generations, who demand bitesize highlights. So, how can racquet sports overcome or embrace the attention deficit and develop the racquet sports product in a way that engages all audiences, young and old?

Laura Gainor

Founder & CEO

Pickleball in the Sun

Free-to-Play Games: A Fan Engagement Tool through Gamification

As sports leagues move into the digital era, engaging with fans has evolved. One of the ways that a sports leagues can engage with fans is by taking advantage of gamification. What is gamification? How can it be used to develop free-to-play games that connect with your fanbase? What is the best way to engage with your fanbase through these games and how do you retain their attention? In this talk, Justin will break down why free-to-play games can be a valuable tool for your professional sports league.

Justin Mader

Gambling Operations Manager

PPA

Sean McManus

Co-founder

M+D

How Do Today's Consumers Shop for Racquet Sports in our Omnichannel World

The racquet sports apparel industry is undergoing a transformative shift, with new players entering the arena alongside traditional giants. As the popularity of insurgent sports like padel and pickleball rises, established brands are adapting by introducing innovative product lines to capture market share. However, the question remains: is there enough space for everyone in this rapidly evolving landscape?nnJoin us for an insightful conference session where we delve into the dynamics shaping the racquet sports apparel industry. From exploring the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging sports to dissecting the strategies for reaching and engaging customers effectively through DTC, brick-and-mortar, and e-commerce, this session promises to provide invaluable insights for industry stakeholders.

Erick Mathelier

Co Founder

Furi Sport

Jeremy Nef

CEO

Stack Athletics

Jackie Skye Muller

Founder

Recreational Habits

Michelle Spiro

Co-Founder

Furi Sport

Sarah Horrocks

Co-Founder

Palair

Tomorrow’s Teacher: Who are the next generation of coaches and what tools, platforms and skillsets do they need to thrive in tomorrow’s world?

A new generation of players demands a new generation of coaches. How do both player and coach learn how to adapt for the future? What are the tools, skillsets and platforms needed to teach today’s racquet sports A-Games?

Tim Bainton

President & Founder / COO

Blue Chip Management / Epic Padel

Marcos Del Pilar

Director and Co Founder

Padelmba USA and Pro Padel League

Brian Dillman

CEO

USPTA

Shaun Moxham

Founder

MSQUASH

Engaging All: The future of the relationship between atletes, brands, fans, and markets.

Explore the future of athlete-brand-fan-market relationships. Unlock the potential of powerful alliances, emphasizing active sponsorships with a 360 ecosystem. Discover how digital innovation drives collaboration among brands, athletes, and media, optimizing the racquet industry for increased sales and exposure.

Sam Flaxman

Strategic Advisor

TopNotch Management

Andrei Daescu

Professional Pickleball Player

MLP/PPA and APP

Drew Danzeisen

Founder

The Pickleball House

Carl Foster

Co-Owner/TV Host

Boca Picklers/ IWP

Bricks and Mortars vs Online marketing vs Direct to Consumer: new geneartions, new brands and how they buy it

The racquet sports apparel industry is welcoming new players, alongside traditional racquet sports giants. So, is there room for everyone? Established brands are developing new lines for the insurgent sports of padel and pickleball. New brands are taking their own share of the market. But how do you reach the customer? Does the direct to consumer gain traction? Will E-Commerce continue to grow? And will retail brands be as important as in previous years?

Erick Mathelier

Co Founder

Furi Sport

Jeremy Nef

CEO

Stack Athletics

Jackie Skye Muller

Founder

Recreational Habits

Good Governance and the Athlete's Integration

"""Shut up and dribble"" is the call of the dinosaurs. Today, players are increasingly the conduit into sports engagement, as well as investors. With this change in profile, how important is player influence in sports governance and ensuring the integrity of governing bodies? Alex Inglot calls on his experience in integrity services as well as board governance at the ATP and in esports to guide a conversation on this topic with the Professional Tennis Players Association and the National Basketball Players Association. "

Alexander Inglot

Commissioner

ESL Pro League

Wajid Mir

General Counsel & EVP Player Engagement

PTPA

Ivan Maggi

Director, International Player Experience National Basketball Players Association

NBA Players Association

Anastasia Skavronskaia

Director of Player Relations

PTPA

Nicolas Lapentti

Ex Pro Tennis Player

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The Perfect Membership Model: What is the sweet spot for today’s racquet sport club?

Independent or corporately owned? One-off club or multi-unit operator? What are the best choices for today’s racquet sport facility? And what’s the best way to attract new members and, more importantly, manage the membership to boost your bottom line? With choice abundant for the consumer of today, the racquet sports industry provides many membership models. But which is the best?

Brian Noble

VP of Pickleball Experience

Ace Pickleball

Rishi Seghal

COO

MindSpring

Mookie Mcdevitt

VP of Strategic Partnerships

Ace Pickleball Club

Ricardo De Las Heras

Founder

Hexagon Cup/School Padel Center

Rosa Jimenez

Journalist

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Elliot Carnello

CEO & Co-Founder

Ace Padel

My Generation: Engaging the fan of the future in racquet sports

With the world changing fast, how can you best engage the next generation of players? What turns on the next generation of fan? Here, Lance of Fanatics Events discusses the most innovative tools and techniques used to draw in the fan of tomorrow.

Sports Industry & Fan Engagement future trends in the sports industry: how to connect with new audiences. What are the most important challenges? Miami Heat and Miami Marlins Vision

The most important sports franchises in Miami will share their vision and how they are connecting with a new generation of fans. How to reach them and bring more value to their organisations and the sports marketing ecosystem

Matthew Jafarian

Executive Vice President, Business Strategy

Miami Heat

Tiago Pinto

Chief Marketing Officer

Miami Marlins

Alvaro Diaz Aguirre

VP - Head of Global Sales

Sportian

Match Made in Heaven: How booking apps are making racquet sports more accessible and forging a better relationship between facilities and consumers

Racquet sports today face competition from esports, streaming platforms, gaming and multiple other content forms. Yet, simple court booking or facility finding technology enables players to get on court and enjoy sport easily. In this session, we learn about how technology and digital innovation is reshaping the racquet sports ecosystem and bringing entirely new players in from the cold.

Victoria Pahlett

Head of Global Sales

MATCHI

Robert Kjellberg

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Andreas Karlsson

Sales Manager

Matchi

Jonathan Lavigne

Chief Product Officer

Matchi

Daniel Ekman

CEO and Founder

Matchi

New Tournaments Formats to Attract New Audiences

Explore innovative racquet sports tournament formats, revitalizing traditional competitions to captivate new audiences. Dive into interactive fan experiences, uncovering secrets to creating excitement and ways to create inclusivity. Join us to revolutionize audience engagement and unlock the potential of new tournament formats.

Ryan Redondo

CEO

Taktika Racquet Sports

Jose Bravo

CEO

La Cocina

Jordi Serrano

Padel Haus

Director of Sport

Martin Moresco

:Founder

NPL/X-Clubs

Fusing Sport and Sustainability: How to build a greener future

Assessment, action and accountability are critical trends for sustainability in sport. nIn this session, Head of Sustainability Oakview Group Kristen Fulmer discusses a new approach to build a greener future, providing venues, fans and racquet sport industry plenty to think about.

Kristen Fulmer

Head of Sustainability

Oak View Group

Ariane Hiltebrand

Director of Sales and Marketing

Miami Beach Convention Center

Teddy L'houtellier

Director of Sustainability

University of Miami

Tanja Marariu

Director of Marketing and Head of Sustainability

The Palms Hotel

Zach Ruiz

Sustainability Manager

Miami Heat/Kaseya Center

Business Strategies to Grow Padel

Discover the secrets for becoming a successful entrepreneur in Padel. A complete review of the unrevealed strategies to reinvent your Racquet business, grow your community and attract and retain more customers to lead the change in the upcoming largest Padel market in the world.nYou will get inspired by the “Godfather of Padel in the USA” that will be sharing his vision, and insights while sharing some interesting business cases.nInnovation, creativity, disruption, and inspiration are part of Marcos’s DNA and will transcend on his 1-hour conference.nA not-to-be-missed presentation by one of the key leaders on bringing Padel to the USA as well as implementing successful business projects all over the world.

Marcos Del Pilar

Director and Co Founder

Padelmba USA and Pro Padel League

Digital Innovation: Cutting-Edge Technology Driving Value for Players, Pros and Club

Digital innovation is no more science fiction" for the racquet industry. AI and other tools are transforming not only the way pro and recreational player engage with the sport but also helps clubs and racquet sports facilities to boost sales, court hours and create a players community. Volley and its alliance iwth APTA is a perfect example of a win win situation: new technologies, more players, more courts filled

John Weinlader

CEO

Volley

Amin Khadduri

CEO

APTA

The Connected Venue: How digital innovation is changing the way venues interact with clients, customers, players and brands.

Racquet sports enthusiasts and players need more than to just play. The modern-day player thrives on data and intelligence to enhance their game. Increasingly, venues are aware of this and are enabling players to have immediate access to instant replays, automated production, and other player development tools. Knowledge is king, and this is something facilities and brands are eager to capitalize on.

Chen Shachar

CEO

PlaySight

Trond Kittelsen

Co-Founder

SportAI

The Shifting Paradigm in the Era of Data Collection

USTA Connect: Heat Map, Partners and the digital path its taking to improve and learn more about the industry and how its shares the data to other protagonists of the industry.

USTA Connect is revolutionizing the way tennis industry data is collected and used. In the tennis industry we have never had real time tennis data, USTA Connect is the first platform bringing all sectors of the tennis industry together to help facilitate real time tennis data and grow the game of tennis.

Brooke Austin

Director, Digital Business

USTA

Sean McManus

Co-founder

M+D

The Athlete Brand: How the modern athlete is building their personal brand from scratch

Athletes are sport’s biggest asset. The heroes and heroines that make the everyday person go and play sport, watch sport and love sport. Athletes have the ability to cultivate their own mega brand like few others, especially today where every follower builds value.

Rosa Jimenez

Journalist

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Judit Castillo

Pickleball Player

Professional

Blas Sanchez

Founder/President

Casas Padel/Amer Racket Distributors

Embracing the essence of padel: an interconnected community.

Alberto Lopez

Label Licensing and Partnerships

TikTok

Pablo Carro

Co-founder

Playtomic

Jorge Ibanez

USA Country Manager

Playtomic

Francisco Javier Angel

Entrepreneur

King of Padel

Innovation as a Disruptor in Global Sports

Iris Cordoba

General Manager

Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft​

Andres Espinosa Riera

Academic Director

Founderz

Digital Innovation and New Startups: Hurdles, failure and success. How to start one and how to build one.

Summary Digital innovation is reshaping the way players, brands and facilities connect. From player tools, connected courts, booking apps…the market is growing and expanding. But how to start one and how to build it? What do you need to ensure success?

Tech and AI Adoption for Racquet Industry Facilities - the benefits, how to implement, and overcoming resistance to new tech

DIgital innovation is reshaping the racquet industry. New apps help fans not only to improve their game and book a court but also to save their moments while they play. Clubs and facilities benefit from these initiatives and transforms sports into entertainment. But there is some resistance to adapt and adopt these changes and opportunities. Learn how to overcome it and take advantage of it

David Fox

CEO

Save My Play

Kevin Richards

RECS Pickleball

CEO

Who's on the Court? New Insights Into a $100B Consumer/Brand Opportunity

What are today's consumers thinking and doing? Two industry experts on leisure and entertainment share trends and results of a brand-new study about the "cross-court consumer." You'll find out where they play, what brands they know and love, and how you can apply the data to your club, fan base, or brand to generate new business.

Nick Dan Bergman

VP of Marketing

Lane Terralever

Jeff Fromm

Senior Advisor

Lane Terralever

Community Counts: How to build a sustainable racquet sports community

Racquet sports extend beyond the act of playing; it's the elusive essence of community that elevates the experience of tennis, pickleball, padel, and beyond. When approached with the proper mindset, these sports not only enrich individual lives but also contribute to community integration, promote social inclusion, and serve their communities in myriad ways. In this session, you'll hear from key stakeholders in the industry about how they are reaching their communities and how you can apply these stories to your own part of the industry.

Brianne Carter

Chief Operations Officer

Ace Pickleball Club

Scott McCulloch

CEO

Cliffdrysdale

Martina Kochli

CEO

My Pickleball Coach

Jason Aspes

Co-Founder

The Kitchen Pickleball

Apparel: How to design it, sell it and reach your target market?

The racquet sports apparel industry is welcoming new players, alongside traditional racquet sports giants. So, is there room for everyone? Established brands are developing new lines for the insurgent sports of padel and pickleball. New brands are taking their own share of the market. But how do you reach the customer? Does the direct to consumer gain traction? Will E-Commerce continue to grow? And will retail brands be as important as in previous years?

Love All: Broadening racquet sports' appeal for a diversity-driven age

As the first black woman and youngest person ever to hold the position of CEO and President of the USTA, Katrina Adams has worked tirelessly for diversity and inclusion in sport. In this special interview, Katrina speaks about her work so far, the challenges the racquet sport industry faces and her vision for a better future.

Katrina Adams

Former Chairman and President

USTA

Choices, Choices, Choices: How to select the best court and building process for your future facility, and benefit from the racquet sports boom

Are all racquet sports courts the same? Is the construction process the same, no matter your racquet sport? Do you opt for modular courts or tailor made? Is it one size fits all for all facilities? In this session, expect to hear some of the best international examples and experiences from the best clubs worldwide.

Iain Pound

Vice President

GreenSet USA

Nate Parsons

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HCA Sports

Alexis Curtenaz

Business Developer

SMC2 Construction

Hernan Auguste

International Relations

MejorSet Padel Courts

Sports as a global platform. How to attract players, talents and brands while engaging the audiences

Sports compete with other sources of entertainment. The future is sportainment. How are brands, tournaments and players pivoting to this new model and what are they doing to engage with a new generations of fansn

Andrew Sokolsky

SVP & Co-Head, Sports & Entertainment

Brand Innovators

Ryan Macaulay

Brand Innovators

SVP & Co-Head, Sports & Entertainment

Jared Kaufer

Founder

JDK Communications

Brendan Kaminsky

bknown Agency

Founder

How digital assets bring benefits to brands, players, apparel and help gamify racquet sports

Digital Assets allow users to own part of a player via tokens. Digital racquets open the door to new aspirational experiences. Fantasy leagues allow you to interact with global audiences. What are the best opportunities for the racquet sports sector to embrace?

Jean Matias

CEO & Founder

Fungiball

Angel Lombardi

Co Founder

SliceToken

Aman Grover

CTO

FansPlay - Home of the Fans

Romain Rosenberg

Deputy Executive Director

Professional Tennis Players Association

Mariano Zabaleta

Co-Founder

SliceToekn

Sharif Elshinnawi

Founder

Dreamfight

The 94% Club – The Importance of Modelling a New Future

Sport offers significant life opportunities. Evidence has shown that 94% of female C-Suite executives played sport (52% to University level or higher). 75% believe a background in sport can help them excel in their career.nnLeading sports lawyer and PSA Squash Board member Rowena Samarasinhe discusses the benefits of greater diversity to all sports institutions, and the positive socio-economic impact that comes from greater equality in the boardroom.nnIn this session, Rowena discusses why women make great entrepreneurs, how and where the sport industry is shifting and how the racquet industry can capitalise on these changing times.

Rowena Samarasinhe

Managing Director

GENSport Limited

How brands interact with players to gain awareness, develop community and boost sales. What are the parámeters when choosing a brand ambassador

Blas Sanzhez

President

Amer Racket - NOX USA Distributors

Ivan Batista

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Alfonso Garcia

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Communicating With Impact: How impactful communications and content can ensure your business cuts through the noise

Content is king, and distribution is queen. Or so the saying goes. In today’s world, with more brands, businesses and individuals trying to capture our attention than ever before, how do you stand out from the crowd? From influencers to old-school media attention, and content marketing to working with athlete ambassadors, what are the best strategies for communicating impact fully?

Public-Private Collaboration for the Greater Good

The combined efforts of the public and private sector have led to numerous racquet sports facilities and venues being constructed, benefitting entire communities. With integration and wellness at their heart, new businesses are arising with social integration and community cohesion as their guiding light. In this session, we learn from North Bay Village, where the International Headquarters of the Soccer World Champions, Argentina, is under construction. and how the City of Memphis, Tennis Memphis, and the University of Memphis partnered to raise close to 32 million dollars and build a 24 outdoor and 12 indoor court tennis venue.

Brent Latham

Mayor

North Bay Village

Todd Carlson

Director of Tennis Venue Services, Parks, & CTAs

USTA

Kevin Kane

CEO

Memphis Tourism

Democratization of Sports: A story of AI

AI is the platform that will reshape how we work, engage and even think. Its democratization will empower individuals with their benefits and opportunities across every business. How will it affect racquet sports?

Jason Syversen

CEO

Sportsvisio

Haitham Eletrabi

Co-founder and CEO

Tennibot

Social Inclusion and Developing Grass Roots Tennis: The youth tennis San Diego benchmark

The journey from introductory tennis to high-level training is a long, committed one. And only few make it to the top of the game. Youth Tennis San Diego has been the benchmark for developing tennis in wider society, to kids of all ages and backgrounds for some time. Learn about their story and the impact it has had on communities in America’s Finest City from CEO, Ryan Redondo.

Ryan Redondo

CEO

Taktika Racquet Sports