Pickleball is exploding. Padel is redefining racquet sports. Tennis is reinventing itself to stay relevant.

But with rapid growth comes growing pains… conflicting rules, frustrated members, inconsistent player experiences.

In this episode, Dominique speaks with Cassandra Toroian, CEO of Ruely.ai, a groundbreaking platform that uses AI to deliver instant, sport-specific rule clarification and enhanced gameplay support across tennis, padel, pickleball, golf, and more.

Together, they unpack how:

• AI is helping clubs eliminate disputes and build stronger community culture
• Leadership decisions on court allocation and programming must be data-backed
• Players and spectators adopt racquet sports faster when they're less intimidated
• Multi-sport clubs can use technology to scale, differentiate, and retain members
• The rise of pickleball and padel is reshaping tennis-focused facilities globally

Whether you’re a club owner, racquet sport executive, coach, or investor, this conversation delivers strategic insight into racquets, leadership, AI, and the future of facility operations.

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In this episode of Racquets Biz, host Dominique Lemperle sits down with Barry Falcon, Chief of Franchise Development at Conquer Padel Club. Barry brings more than twenty five years of experience in franchising and has built and sold multiple franchise businesses. He explains why Padel is poised to become the next major racket sport in the United States, how the sport compares to pickleball, and why the timing for investors could not be better.

Barry shares his journey from New York to Los Angeles and finally to Atlanta, along with the sports that shaped his life. He describes the moment he recognized Padel’s explosive global growth and decided to partner with Conquer Padel. With a fully developed 400 page operations playbook, a strong executive team, and a growing pipeline of franchise territories, Conquer Padel is positioning itself as the leading Padel franchise brand in the country.

Listeners will learn what makes a great franchisee, the red flags that keep candidates out of the system, and the operational decisions that help new clubs flourish. Barry explains staffing models, community building, member engagement, and why local market adaptation is essential. He also highlights the biggest mistakes emerging franchisors make and how to avoid them.

Whether you are an investor, operator, or someone following the Padel boom, this conversation is packed with clear guidance on what it takes to build a profitable franchise in a fast growing sport.

In this episode, Dominique sits down with longtime friend and former pro tour competitor Justin Romero to explore what it takes to run the largest pickleball facility in the world. From managing 85 staff members and 65 courts to partnering with Collier County and rebranding one of the sport’s most iconic venues, Justin shares his blueprint for building community and sustainable growth in the booming world of pickleball.

He reveals how creative leadership, smart membership models, and consistent presence on the courts can transform a public facility into a thriving, world-class operation.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Justin transitioned from tennis director at Ocean Reef Club to leading the National Pickleball Center
  
  
  
• The key differences between managing private clubs and public facilities
  
  
  
• Creative ways to balance brand integrity with sponsorship requests
  
  
  
• Why visibility, approachability, and small daily gestures create lasting member loyalty
  
  
  
• How to structure memberships, lessons, and retail for long-term revenue growth
  
  
  
• The strategy behind new programs like the Battle of the Clubs and the US Open Pickleball Academy for juniors
  
  
  
• Justin’s advice for tennis pros, club managers, and investors entering the pickleball industry
  
  
  

Memorable Quote:

“If you do the membership right, the money follows. We’re in the people-pleasing business — and that starts with showing up.” — Justin Romero

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Racquets Biz — where data meets the future of racquet sports.