Toronto-based Fairgrounds, a fast-growing operator of racket sports clubs, is poised to open its first permanent flagship facility in the city this May as part of an aggressive national expansion plan for 2025.
Drummond Munro, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Fairgrounds, confirmed the company’s rapid growth since its early days testing both indoor and outdoor club formats.
The first indoor location opened a year ago in the spring. “Since then we opened four clubs. Indoor, outdoor, pickleball, padel. Currently we have 29 courts across the GTA and we’re about to open our first permanent flagship facility here in Toronto, in Leaside,” explained Munro.
Fairgrounds is transforming a former Mercedes-Benz dealership into a premier destination for racket sports enthusiasts. The Leaside flagship will include 13 pickleball courts, four padel courts, a full food and beverage program, a sauna, curated pro shop, change rooms, and more.
“A pretty spectacular flagship location that’s going to feature all the bells and whistles, 25 foot clearance,” said Munro. “So we’re really, really excited about the evolution. Now we’re getting comfortable with our model and really scaling up.”
According to Munro, the new site will open mid-May. “I am spending every second minute over there dealing with construction,” he added.
The facility combines multiple zones from the dealership’s past life. “You come in and you’re in the showroom and then we’ve actually converted the auto garage where they did all the servicing,” said Munro. “We’re doing the outdoor parking lot as well. It’s roughly 50, 55,000 square feet.”
Fairgrounds isn’t stopping there. The company has plans to launch eight more locations across Canada this year. “We are underway on Kingston, Hamilton, Whitby, Ottawa, Vancouver, Red Deer,” said Munro. “That’s seven that are already signed and underway.”
All of these new locations are expected to open by year-end, with staggered launch dates beginning in June. All are indoor sites, although the company is also exploring a few summer pop-up activations.
The confidence behind this expansion is rooted in a data-driven approach and strong community engagement. “We have now a year and a half worth of data to really support our decisions around scale,” said Munro. “We built a network of almost 60,000 members within the GTA.”
Fairgrounds has used its pilot phase to test everything from pricing and programming to community events and brand activations.
“We really wanted to give access to these sports that have typically been inaccessible to the masses,” he said. “If you look at a spectrum of public infrastructure on one side and private clubs on the other, there really is nothing in the middle.”
Munro added that broader social trends are also fueling demand for the sports. “People are looking [to] disconnect from screens. They’re looking to connect with one another, they’re looking to be active. The two sports we’re talking about, pickleball and paddle, are sort of rooted in community and social behaviour.”
Looking beyond 2025, Fairgrounds has ambitious goals.
“We’re looking at over a hundred courts this year,” said Munro. “We think we can be the biggest player by the end of the year and we think that growth can continue for the next couple years and we would even consider looking at the US if the time was right.”
“Our goal is to reimagine underused commercial real estate and create third spaces that cultivate social connection through fun and play,” added Munro.
Visitors To Fairgrounds can expect:
● Tournament-Level Facilities – Thoughtfully designed courts with top-tier surfaces and stadium-style seating for an elevated match-day atmosphere.
● Community-Focused Play – A welcoming space where enthusiasts and pros alike can connect through drop-in play, memberships, and social activations.
● Player-Improvement Programming – In addition to open play opportunities, available coaching, clinics and beginner leagues allow curious players to get comfortable on the court.
● Innovative Events – Engaging events, product launches, and exclusive member experiences encourage new ways to connect.
● New Expanded Membership Models – A first in Canada for racket clubs, Fairgrounds will introduce various memberships with universal access across all of its locations. Designed for frequent, more dedicated players, these membership options aim to balance out cost savings with complete accessibility.
● Wellness-Focused Amenities – A holistic wellness space, featuring a sauna and cold rinse shower, allows players an opportunity for calm and recentering pre- or post-match.
● Kids’ Programming & Family Play –Thoughtfully designed junior programs, family-friendly play sessions, and coaching clinics that make the game accessible and fun for all ages.
● Premium Social & Retail Offerings – A modern selection of equipment, apparel, and lifestyle essentials to enhance the playing experience.
● Adaptive Reuse & Stunning Design – Located in a former Mercedes-Benz dealership, Leaside features a bold architectural transformation that maximizes its open, airy spaces. Soaring ceilings and expansive windows enhance the professional-grade playing experience.
● Aesthetic-Driven Interiors – Punctuated by bright, content-worthy interiors, design by Vancouver-based Emily Robin Design brings together true function and form. “Our goal was to create an easy meeting place for people to experience the best part of their week,” said Robin. “We believe the spatial experience sets the tone for players—welcoming, accessible, unpretentious and, most importantly, fun.”
● Lounge, Food & Beverage – A thoughtfully designed lounge and dining area will offer a rotating menu of hyper-local culinary experiences.
Related Retail Insider stories:
