Description
A shift that’s been building overseas is now starting to land in New Zealand: venues that blend food + drinks + courts + social energy into a single destination.
Think less “watch sport” and more “play sport, then stay for another drink.”
Across the US and parts of Europe, this model is already well proven. Dedicated venues combining pickleball courts, 3×3 basketball, hospitality, and social programming are showing that sport can be a repeatable social experience, not just a one-off activity.
That same pattern is now emerging in NZ, with more pubs, bars, and breweries actively ordering 3×3 basketball courts and pickleball courts to activate outdoor space and attract new audiences. The result is a new hybrid venue model that is expected to accelerate through 2026.
Overseas proof: courts + hospitality works
One of the strongest reasons this trend is gaining traction in NZ is that it is already succeeding at scale overseas.
A standout example is Chicken N Pickle (USA)
👉 https://chickennpickle.com/
Chicken N Pickle operates large entertainment venues that combine:
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Multiple pickleball courts
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Full-service restaurant and bar
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Outdoor yard games
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Event spaces and social leagues
Their success shows how courts become the anchor, while food, drinks, and events drive repeat visits. Guests don’t just play — they stay, socialise, eat, and return regularly.
Another strong example is Electric Pickle in Arizona
👉 https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/01/06/electric-pickle-tempe-arizona
Often described as the “Topgolf of pickleball”, Electric Pickle blends:
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Pickleball courts
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Restaurant and cocktail bar
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Bocce, ping pong, cabanas, and live music
This type of venue highlights how sport is becoming entertainment-first, designed to suit mixed groups rather than competitive athletes only.
In Houston, the Solarium concept pushes this even further
👉 https://www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture/restaurants-bars/article/solarium-houston-pickleball-padel-20297966.php
Solarium combines:
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Pickleball and racket sport courts
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Dining and bar spaces
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Shaded outdoor social zones
This model reinforces the idea that courts don’t replace hospitality — they enhance it.
These venues matter because they prove the business case NZ operators are now watching closely.
Why small-format courts suit pubs and breweries
Low-barrier sports people actually join in
Pickleball continues to grow because beginners can rally quickly. It is social from day one and suits mixed ages and fitness levels.
In New Zealand, pickleball reached a key milestone when Pickleball New Zealand received Sport NZ accreditation in November 2025, a clear signal the sport has moved beyond novelty into structured national growth.
3×3 basketball follows a similar pattern:
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Smaller teams
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Short games
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Fast rotations
This makes it ideal for venues where people want to play briefly, socialise, then rotate back to food and drinks.
Built for mid-week and repeat traffic
Courts give venues something hospitality alone often struggles to deliver: reasons to return regularly.
Common programming includes:
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Social leagues
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Work team nights
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Birthday bookings
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Casual challenge games
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Weekly ladders
This is exactly how overseas venues like Chicken N Pickle and Electric Pickle maintain strong weekday trade.
Increased dwell time without pressure selling
Courts naturally extend customer visits:
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Arrive early for a warm-up drink
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Play a short session
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Stay for food, drinks, and spectating
Because the activity is voluntary and social, the spend feels organic rather than forced.
The stats behind “why now”
Pickleball remains one of the fastest-growing sports globally:
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In the US, participation has been widely reported as growing over 300% across three years
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NZ participation continues to expand rapidly through clubs, councils, and community facilities
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Sport NZ accreditation confirms long-term national infrastructure
3×3 basketball also continues to scale globally, driven by its fast format, digital rankings, and suitability for compact spaces.
For hospitality venues, both sports align perfectly with short attention spans, social play, and flexible programming.
What this new hybrid venue looks like in NZ by 2026
If 2024–2025 has been about early adopters, 2026 is where this becomes repeatable.
Expect to see:
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Breweries installing single multi-use courts (pickleball + 3×3 markings)
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Pubs activating underused outdoor areas with courts
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Container bars and pop-up venues built around court bookings
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Book-a-court systems paired with weekly programming
Internationally, new venues continue launching with courts as their social centrepiece — and NZ is now following that same path.
Why venue owners are buying in
From a business perspective, courts deliver:
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New customer demographics
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Family-friendly daytime trade
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Corporate and group bookings
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Built-in marketing content
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Better use of outdoor space
Most importantly, they transform venues from places people visit occasionally into places people build habits around.
Final outlook for 2026
The takeaway is simple:
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Courts + hospitality is no longer experimental
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Pickleball and 3×3 basketball fit hospitality environments perfectly
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Overseas models prove the economics
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NZ venues are already moving
By 2026, the idea of playing pickleball or 3×3 basketball at your local pub or brewery will feel normal, not novel — and the venues that move early will be the ones people remember.
