Latest / Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact / Pickleball Republic: Carlsbad’s First Indoor-Outdoor Pickleball Hub
Transcript
- Host (Bret Schanzenbach): Welcome to Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact. I’m Bret Schanzenbach, President & CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Today I’m joined by Sean Walker and Andy Slip, co-founders of Pickleball Republic. Great to have you both! Sean Walker: Great to be here! Andy Slip: Thanks for having us. Bret: Sean, you’re a Carlsbad local—Kelly Elementary, Valley (back when it was junior high), Carlsbad High. Four kids, still living a block from where you grew up. And you spent years in recreational entertainment—paintball, laser tag, big events—right? Sean: Yep. I opened my first paintball spot at 16 in the Gaslamp, later hosted TV shows on ESPN and Fox Sports, ran big events, and then spent 15 years operating the Camp Pendleton paintball park. After COVID, access rules changed, and around then my dad got me into pickleball. My world is recreation—we sell fun—so pickleball just clicked. Bret: Andy, your Carlsbad story? Andy: My wife and I have been in San Diego about 18 years. We met in Tokyo, have two kids (now 23 and 21), live in Carlsbad. We discovered pickleball on vacation in Cabo, came home looking for a place to play, took a class at Sean’s Pickleball Club at the Shops at Carlsbad—and fell in love with the community. From there, Sean and I became friends and eventually business partners. Bret: Sean, tell us about the current Pickleball Club. Sean: We opened right after COVID in the old Sears warehouse space at The Shoppes at Carlsbad. We built 6 courts and a pro shop. Unlike most places where you bring a group and that’s it, we built a YMCA-style program: classes, leveled play, and a drop-in community. About 80 new players a week try pickleball there. It’s truly for everyone—first-timers to competitive players. Bret: And that success led to the next chapter with Pickleball Republic. Andy: Exactly. We saw the demand and decided to build a bigger, purpose-designed facility together. It’s been a two-year journey of site search, design, permits—now we’re rolling. Sean: The new Pickleball Republic will be at 2045 Corte Del Norte in Carlsbad—near K1 Speed. We’re creating San Diego’s first hybrid indoor/outdoor pickleball complex with 18+ courts. Permits and signage are done, prelim construction has started. We’re targeting early 2026, and if construction cooperates, we’re aiming for February 1. Bret: Indoor and outdoor fits San Diego perfectly. Sean: Totally. Some people love the sun; others want climate-controlled play. We’ll have both, plus the same community-centric training model—just scaled up. Bret: Talk memberships and access. Sean: No paid membership required. Everyone gets a free basic membership to book and play. We do offer optional paid tiers with perks (priority times, discounts, etc.). You can pay a simple court fee, rent paddles/balls—just show up and have fun. We also run leveled classes (Level 1–4), skills & drills, leagues, and tournaments so players can progress. Andy: We match people to their level so no one feels intimidated. Whether it’s grandma and grandson, total beginners, or tournament players—there’s a lane for you. Bret: Cost and fitness? Sean: Affordable rec: think ~$30 for a court reservation, ~$25 per class. It’s social and a legit workout—you can burn 1,300–1,400 calories in a couple hours. Bret: Court design? Sean: Premium layout. Many courts are individually fenced to prevent ball bleed and interruptions. There’s ample common area for hanging out—because the community time before and after is half the magic. Bret: Visitors and corporate groups? Andy: Carlsbad’s a destination. We have travelers drop in all the time. We’ll also host corporate outings and team events at the new facility. Bret: Where can people find you now? Sean: Current club: at The Shoppes at Carlsbad. Online: PickleballRepublic.com (PickleballClub.life forwards too). Phone: (760) 893-0019. We’re open 8am–8pm, seven days a week—a real human will help you book. Bret: Congrats on the expansion and thanks for what you’re building for our community. Sean: Thank you! Andy: Can’t wait to open and welcome everyone.