Evan Specht: Building top-notch pickleball facilities for the sport’s future
From aerospace engineer, to tennis pro, to pickleball pioneer, Diadem’s Evan Specht shares his vision to grow the game.
Evan Specht’s journey into the world of pickleball began with tennis. Born and raised playing the sport, he attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on a tennis scholarship. Initially an aerospace engineering student, he switched to business. Post-graduation, he turned pro before going into coaching. Over the decade that followed, he co-founded Diadem, a company that initially focused on tennis strings and later expanded into pickleball equipment.
Investing in quality infrastructure and leveraging his extensive background in racket sports to position Diadem as a leader in pickleball, the Diadem Pickleball Complex is a testament to the sport's continued appeal. He shared his story with us here.
“The Diadem Pickleball Complex is a testament to the sport’s continued appeal.”
On bootstrapping beginnings...
We spent years prototyping the tennis string, finding the right factory. It’s not like I came from a background where my dad was a tennis product developer. We had to learn everything, and we finally got it. We brought it to market with just a couple of strings and we had a lot of success because we weren't paying ourselves and we were still coaching. Every dollar we made, we put back into Diadem.
We started the business with about $35,000 and we bootstrapped it, going from strings to rackets to balls. Then we found pickleball and we decided we had to learn how to play. We built a court, and we started prototyping products. We had the skills and the carbon fibre and were able to make great paddles and enter the market. Now we're a leader in pickleball with a worldwide presence and it's been a great journey.
On opening the Diadem Pickleball Complex...
Our venture into facility ownership started unexpectedly. After building a pickleball court at the back of Diadem's office, we got a lot of interest from people. The turning point came when we identified an underutilized basketball gym at a nearby community college. It was basically two basketball courts and had the capacity for 2,500 people. Seeing its potential, the team worked hard to transform the space into a top-tier pickleball facility, ripping out the existing floor and investing in a high-quality Laykold surface and great facilities. And the result is the Diadem Pickleball Complex (DPC).
On the appeal of pickleball...
Pickleball's rise in popularity can be attributed to both accessibility and enjoyment. Once you play it, it's the most fun sport that you'll probably ever play. It’s easy for new players to pick up the sport and they quickly become hooked. The low barrier to entry means that anyone from 10 to 80 years old can start playing and see themselves improve rapidly. Then there’s the sport's social aspect, with quick points and close interactions, which adds to its charm. Pickleball fosters an easy, more intimate and social environment.
On the importance of surface quality...
The playing surface is paramount for both performance and player welfare. Many people play on various surfaces for hours, but when you’re on a high-quality, tennis-like surface you notice the difference. It’s crucial for maintaining the sport's credibility and ensuring a true bounce and proper movement. We chose the Laykold Pickleball Pro court system to ensure a professional level playing experience and help reduce joint strain, which is especially important given the sport's broad age range of players.
On working with Laykold...
Laykold is reliable and trustworthy. Our installer, Fast Dry, recommended Laykold, so it was a no-brainer due to their reputation and the quality of their surfaces. All our questions were answered, it came in on time and we got the colour we needed. Their cushioned systems are particularly good for reducing joint stress, making it easier on knees and minimising injuries. This focus on quality and player experience aligns with our commitment to provide top-notch facilities.
“We chose the Laykold Pickleball Pro court system to ensure a professional-level playing experience and help reduce joint strain, which is especially important given the sport’s broad age range of players.”
On public support for DPC...
Customer feedback for DPC has been overwhelmingly positive. People are impressed by the high ceilings, the open space without poles and the courts themselves, with the ocean-blue colour scheme. The courts offer the right balance of grip and smoothness, which enhances the playing experience. DPC can host customizable events, has food and beverages, shopping opportunities, open play sessions, clinics and leagues – it all brings in a crowd.
On the future for DPC...
DPC hosts a variety of events, from small corporate and charity tournaments to qualifiers for national leagues. The unique design, with courts facing different directions and various setups for different skill levels, caters to diverse needs. Looking ahead, we plan to expand by opening 20 more facilities across the country. The goal is to find new locations in areas with the demographic that supports the sport's growth.
And for pickleball...
I see continued growth for pickleball both domestically and especially internationally. While the initial surge in the U.S. might level off, the development of thousands of new courts and facilities will sustain interest. Internationally, markets in Asia and Europe are beginning to embrace the sport, particularly in countries with a strong background in racket sports.
Learn more about Diadem and the Diadem Pickleball Complex.
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