Pickleball Community, Saturation & What Makes Clubs Last | Michele Spahr, Podcast Host & USLPL Corr.

In this episode, Ashley sits down with Michele Spahr, competitive pickleball player, USLPL correspondent and commentator, and co-host of "Mom, You're Embarrassing Me," for a conversation that's equal parts industry insight and human story.They get into the real drivers of player retention: lighting, wall color, beverage programs, open play competition, and the thing that tends to outweigh all of it — whether people feel welcome when they walk in. Michele has been inside enough facilities to know the difference, and she doesn't hold back.The conversation also tackles the tension a lot of operators are feeling right now. Courts are opening faster than player bases are growing. Some clubs are thriving. Others aren't making it. What's the gap? (Hint: it has less to do with the build-out than most people think.)Woven through all of it is a story about pickleball as more than a sport. Michele manages Multiple Sclerosis and has leaned on the pickleball community through some of her hardest seasons. She and her daughter Jordan built "Mom, You're Embarrassing Me" out of that experience — and it's become a platform where pro players and everyday people show up honestly.Topics covered:✅ What traveling players notice — and remember — about the facilities they visit✅ Training for high-pressure tournaments like the US Open✅ Living with MS and using pickleball as a grounding tool✅ Building a podcast with your daughter and growing a brand around it✅ The USLPL: Michele's role as correspondent and commentator for the 35+, 50+, and 60+ pro league✅ Court saturation, club closures, and what it takes to stay competitive✅ Why community outlasts aesthetics every time✅ How CourtReserve helps traveling players manage multiple clubs in one placeIf you run a pickleball facility and want an unfiltered read on what players are actually looking for, this is a great place to start.Check out the Mom, You're Embarrassing Me podcast here: www.youtube.com/@MYEMpodcast Learn more about CourtReserve: courtreserve.com/