PodPlay is building THE technology platform for modern sports venues. 

But what makes a sports venue modern?

Modern sports venues profitably deliver an experience consistent with the expectations of today’s consumers. In the era of AI, Automation, and Integrated Tech consumers want sports venue technology to be:

• Mobile-first
• On demand
• Easy to use
• Social
• Video-enabled
• Integrated
• AI-driven

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States and has been a catalyst for change in the participatory sports club industry. Unencumbered by legacy business models driven by outdated technology, forward thinking pickleball clubs have implemented systems calibrated to the expectations of modern consumers. Legacy sports venues will be forced to modernize in order to compete. 

To better understand this competitive dynamic, let’s look at how technology solutions for participatory sports venues have evolved over time. 

A Short History of Technology Solutions for Participatory Sports Venues

Managing participatory sports venues – from racquet clubs and gyms to yoga studios and golf courses – has transformed dramatically over the past several decades. In the early days, sign-up sheets and rolodexes gave way to desktop software, which in turn migrated to web-based platforms and mobile apps. Today, AI-driven tools, integrated hardware, and autonomous experiences are reshaping venue operations. 

There have been five distinct eras in the development of tech for participatory sports venues. Each tech shift has shifted the competitive landscape and ushered in new business models.

First Computer Systems (1970s–1980s)

The use of computers to automate manual tasks that were labor intensive and error prone fundamentally shifted the efficiency of participatory sports venues, but they were generally only available to larger players due to the upfront costs to install.

Key Developments

• Payments: automated payment processing
• Membership: member management and billing
• Databases: initial use of databases
• Identity: ID Cards / Barcode scanners

Notable Companies

• CSI Software
• Jonas Computing
• ABC Financial

PC: On-Premises Club Management (1990s)

The 1990s witnessed gyms, clubs, and studios broadly adopting PC-based management systems. As the cost of computers fell, even independent clubs could install software to replace ledgers. These on-premises systems handled member check-ins, billing, and scheduling in one software package.

Key Developments

• Integrated Modules: membership databases, point-of-sale, group class schedules, personal training appointments, locker rentals, and more.
• Graphical UI: transition from text-based DOS systems to graphical Windows interfaces in the mid-90s improved usability
• Equipment Connectivity: toward the late ’90s, fitness equipment manufacturers and third-parties started connecting gym machines to software to record workouts
• Automated Check In: magnetic stripe membership cards and key tags

Notable Companies

• CSI Spectrum
• Jonas Club
• TAI Club Management
• ABC Fitness
• 24 Hour Fitness

Web-Based SaaS (2000s)

The advent of the SaaS model in club management lowered the barrier to entry for new operators – even a small yoga studio could afford a monthly subscription instead of a hefty upfront software license. This democratization enabled the explosion of boutique fitness in the decade.

Key Developments

• Software-as-a-Service (SaaS): instead of running on a local PC only, club management systems began to run via web browsers, with data stored in the cloud. 
• Online Booking & Self-Service: A game-changer was giving members the ability to book services (court reservations, classes, memberships) themselves via the internet.
• Integrated Payments: Nearly all SaaS systems integrated payment processing by the 2000s. Recurring credit card or bank draft billing became standard.
• Email and CRM Tools: Management software in this era began to include basic CRM (Customer Relationship Management) features – automated email reminders, marketing blasts to members, and lead follow-up workflows. 

Notable Companies

• Mindbody
• Club Automation
• EZFacility
• Zen Planner
• Constellation Software (Consolidator)
• Daxco (Consolidator)

Mobile and Cloud (2010s)

If the 2000s put club management in the cloud, the 2010s made it mobile and data-driven. Ubiquitous smartphones changed member expectations and opened new possibilities for engagement and automation. Clubs also began embracing experience-enhancing hardware as part of their service offering.

Key Developments

• Mobile Apps: Leading software providers launched mobile apps allowing consumers to find classes, book appointments, and manage their memberships on their phones.
• 24/7 Access: The 2010s saw the proliferation of 24/7 gym franchises which leveraged tech to operate with minimal staff. RFID key fobs and door controllers allowed members to access clubs at off-hours securely. 
• Data Analytics and Insights: With cloud systems accumulating years of data, the 2010s brought an emphasis on analytics. Club owners could track KPIs like membership growth, retention rates, class attendance trends, and revenue per member with a few clicks. 
• Marketplace: ClassPass (launched 2013) became a popular consumer app allowing users to attend classes at various boutique studios. While not management software itself, ClassPass integrated with scheduling systems like Mindbody via APIs. Its rise forced club management software to handle real-time inventory sharing with external platforms. 
• Video Content & Virtual Fitness: Some gyms started recording group classes or training sessions to offer on-demand videos to their members. Forward-thinking club software integrated with video platforms to allow seamless access. This was partially inspired by the at-home fitness boom.
• Sports video tech: In many sports, advanced video systems entered clubs. Golf clubs started installing shot-tracking and simulation tech to enhance the player experience. While these aren’t management software per se, they are more effective when integrated with reservation systems.

Notable Companies

• Mindbody
• ClassPass
• Trackman
• TopTracer
• Playsight
• CourtReserve
• Playbypoint
• Playtomic
• MATCHi

AI, Automation & Integrated Tech (2020s)

The 2020s have kicked off a new chapter characterized by smart automation and deeper integration of hardware. Two catalysts accelerated technology adoption in this period: the COVID-19 pandemic and rapid advances in AI.

Key Developments

• AI-Powered Tools: Artificial intelligence and machine learning have begun to permeate fitness club management, including virtual assistants, automated scheduling and predictive analytics.
• Computer Vision & In-Club AI: Another frontier is using cameras with AI in club spaces. Some clubs have tested AI coaching cameras that watch members during workouts and give form feedback – essentially a “virtual personal trainer” using pose recognition. Other computer vision systems provide detailed game analytics and game highlights.
• Interactive Fitness Equipment: Some clubs have studios with large screens for virtual classes (offering digital classes during off-peak hours without a live instructor). Others partner with equipment makers to use smart machines that automatically adjust resistance for each user and log the workout to the cloud. 
• Gamified experiences: Topgolf’s microchipped golf balls and tracking sensors turned a driving range into a gamified experience. While Topgolf itself is more of an entertainment venue, its blend of hardware and software management (tracking scores, handling bay reservations, linking with mobile apps) has set an example that other participatory sports venues are learning from. 
• Autonomous experiences: the 24/7 model pioneered in fitness was refined and first offered as a SaaS service, expanding the unstaffed model to new experience verticals including ping pong, pool, pickleball and golf simulators.

Notable Companies

• TopGolf
• SwingVision
• PB Vision
• Peloton
• PodPlay
• Pickleheads

What Modern Consumers Expect

We are in the era of AI, Automation, and Integrated Tech. Modern consumers expect club management tech to be:

• Mobile-first
• On demand
• Easy to use
• Social
• Video-enabled
• Integrated
• AI-driven

To be successful, modern sports venues must deliver on these expectations, and do so profitably. 

Drivers of Sports Venue Profitability

The best technology companies earn the right to compete based on return-on-investment (ROI) not price. They win business by becoming an essential driver of profitability for the businesses they serve. They build a product that is a durable source of competitive differentiation for their customers - solutions that allow businesses to do more with less. For a given level of investment, premium solutions must: improve user-experience, increase revenue, and decrease costs.

Key Revenue Drivers

• Booked hours
• Revenue per hour booked

Key Expense Drivers

• Rent
• Labor
• Marketing
• Technology

Rent and labor are the two biggest expense items for participatory sports venues. The most successful venues will use technology to generate high levels of revenue per square foot and per employee. 

A New Era for Sports Clubs

Pickleball is acting as a catalyst for change in the sports club industry. Unencumbered by existing business models and technology, pickleball clubs have embraced models that drive high revenue per square foot and limit labor overhead. 

By comparison, tennis has a revenue per square foot problem. Two pickleball courts fit in the square footage required for a single tennis court. The default way to play pickleball is doubles, while the default in tennis is singles. Given similar utilization, a pickleball venue can serve 8 customers in the same square footage as a tennis club serves 2. Solutions like Tennis Social AI are emerging to help solve the revenue per square foot issue in tennis.

As in previous eras, the winners in the era of AI, Automation & Integrated Tech will use technology to deliver amazing experiences for customers. Business models calibrated to the expectations of modern consumers will outperform and put competitive pressure on legacy players to evolve. Legacy operators risk obsolescence if they fail to align with shifting consumer expectations—much like Blockbuster in the Netflix era.

PodPlay at a Glance: Built for the Era of AI, Autonomy, and Integrated Tech

The PodPlay Advantage

PodPlay gives venue operators all the tools they need to digitally manage a physical space - integrating video replays, automated scoreboards, and autonomous functionality with a reservation engine, event management, coach connect, membership module, and payments. 

Originally built to power PingPod, the network of futuristic autonomous ping pong clubs, PodPlay is now being used to manage venues across pickleball, padel, ping pong, golf simulators, racing simulators, soccer, hockey, baseball, and pool, with more experience verticals to come in the future.

If you’re interested in learning more, request a demo.