Expansion of Sports Infrastructure Driven by Pickleball's Popularity

Growth of Pickleball and Its Impact on Sports Infrastructure

The surge in pickleball's popularity across the United States is significantly transforming the sports infrastructure sector. Recently, Court Surfaces of Florida, a Jacksonville-based contractor with over 30 years of experience, was acquired by The Vasco Group, a national sports surfacing firm primarily owned by Monogram Capital Partners from Los Angeles. This acquisition not only enhances Vasco's presence in Florida but also broadens its reach throughout the Southeast.

In addition to the Jacksonville acquisition, Vasco has also taken over Howard B. Jones & Son, a South Carolina company specializing in tennis and sports surfaces, which operates in several southeastern states. Although the financial details of these transactions remain undisclosed, they highlight the growing demand for sports court construction and renovations.

Court Surfaces of Florida serves various markets including Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, and St. Augustine, focusing on the construction, resurfacing, and repair of tennis, pickleball, basketball courts, and running tracks. Their clientele includes municipalities, schools, commercial entities, and private individuals.

Vasco's acquisition strategy reflects the increasing significance of pickleball-related infrastructure in their long-term growth plans. The company stated, 'Court Surfaces of Florida enhances our coverage in North Florida and increases our capacity for pickleball, resurfacing, and municipal projects.'

This acquisition comes at a time when the demand for sports court construction and renovation is on the rise across the nation, particularly due to the rapid growth of pickleball, which has led to increased investments in recreational infrastructure and the conversion of existing tennis courts.

Following the acquisition, former owners Bryan and Heather McMandon will continue to manage Court Surfaces of Florida, reporting to Zach Stevenson, president of Nidy Sports Construction, which is Vasco's Florida operation. Heather McMandon expressed, 'Joining the Vasco platform allows us to scale responsibly while maintaining our commitment to quality and dependable service.'

Vasco Group, based in Ohio, emphasized that these acquisitions will enhance geographic continuity across the Southeast, linking Florida with operations extending through the Carolinas and into Georgia. Stevenson noted, 'This partnership will further strengthen our ability to serve customers in northeast Florida and, combined with Howard B. Jones, will allow us to expand our business and service offerings into eastern Georgia.'

Vasco CEO Matt Savage described these acquisitions as part of a broader national growth strategy aimed at collaborating with established regional operators. He stated, 'Howard B. Jones and Court Surfaces are exactly the kind of founder-led, reputation-driven businesses we seek to partner with. They both offer strong regional coverage, deep technical expertise, and align well with our operational culture.'

These acquisitions are the culmination of strategic efforts to identify well-established businesses that can enhance Vasco's existing footprint while opening new market opportunities. They reflect the momentum built in 2025 and keep the company on track to create the most comprehensive sports surfacing platform in the country.

Vasco highlighted that Court Surfaces of Florida has earned a reputation for adhering to American Sports Builders Association standards while maintaining skilled field crews across various projects. The acquisition of Howard B. Jones & Son further enhances Vasco's expertise in tennis and clay court systems, bringing over 50 years of experience across multiple states, including work on Har-Tru and Hydro Court clay systems as well as acrylic hard court construction.

As pickleball participation continues to rise nationwide, companies involved in court construction, resurfacing, and recreational infrastructure are becoming increasingly vital players in one of the fastest-growing segments of the sports industry.