Georgia is home to many charming cities, such as Atlanta, Savannah, and Augusta, each known for their unique attractions. Smaller destinations like Blue Ridge, St. Simons, and Woodstock also captivate travelers with their charm. One city that often goes unpraised is Macon, known as “The Heart of Georgia.” Located just an hour south of Atlanta, Macon boasts a rich musical heritage, stunning architecture, and a historic downtown. As Georgia’s fourth-largest city, Macon is not only steeped in history but is also making waves in pickleball with Rhythm and Rally, the largest indoor pickleball club in the world. General Manager John Roberts and his team have created an impressive facility with thirty-two indoor courts spanning two levels within Macon’s largest mall. The club’s success and rapid popularity can be attributed to Roberts’ journey into pickleball, the club’s innovative public-private partnership, and the team’s effective utilization of the space.
Roberts’ background is deeply rooted in collegiate sports. Roberts’ father, sports director of Valdosta State University, undoubtedly began his son’s love for college athletics. As a student himself, Roberts worked in the athletic department at the University of Georgia and, after graduating, held positions in sports media relations at two colleges. He then pivoted to join the Atlantic Sun Conference as the director of sports services. Most of this role was centered around planning and managing the annual conference championships. During this time, he began organizing pickleball tournaments on the side, driven by his passion for the sport.
The beginning of Roberts’ pickleball involvement started during the pandemic in 2020. Attending his first pickleball tournament in 2020, he noticed common issues such as long waits and poor organization, things that a collegiate sports conference director would quickly be able to improve upon. This inspired him to improve the sport’s standards. His dedication and growing love for the game led him to a nonprofit organization in Macon, known as Macon Pickleball. Through this nonprofit, Roberts secured a position as General Manager of Rhythm and Rally, where he has since been instrumental in the club’s success.
The idea of Rhythm and Rally was a group effort between the public and private sectors of the city. The Mayor of Macon, Lester Miller saw the need for this particular area of town to be revitalized and recognized the potential of pickleball to draw foot traffic and inject new life into neglected areas. The Macon Mall, a place with deep nostalgic significance for many residents, became the focal point of this revitalization effort. Like many malls, stores throughout had closed down, opening up a significant amount of unoccupied space. To address this, various city and government agencies moved into the mall, helping to repurpose the space. The goal to repurpose the mall progressed to new heights when a sports facilities company agreed to occupy a significant region of the mall.
The Urban Development Authority played a crucial role by funding the renovation of a former Belk department store. This particular location turned out to be ideal for a pickleball facility, as the pillars inside the Belk were perfectly spaced for the layout of pickleball courts. The result was the construction of thirty-two indoor pickleball courts, split evenly with sixteen courts on the upper level and sixteen on the lower level. This transformation not only revitalized the mall but also provided a state-of-the-art facility for pickleball enthusiasts in the community. Just like that, Rhythm and Rally came to life.
This collaboration turned the Macon Mall into a hub of activity, showcasing the positive impact such partnerships can have on urban revitalization and community engagement. The story of the Macon Mall’s transformation stands as a shining example of innovative thinking and cooperative efforts breathing new life into struggling areas.
Having opened its doors in January of 2024, the club is still humble and hungry to grow. Currently offering locker rooms, vending machines, and a fully stocked pro shop to its members and guests, Roberts also shared the vision of the club’s future offerings. “The goal is to continue to take away reasons for our members to have to leave” Roberts explains, “We want to have a full-service kitchen and bar in the next couple of months with the hopes of following the Vegas casino model… the longer your guests stay in the building, the more money they will inevitably spend.” Rhythm and Rally has a unique position to expand due to the large space it occupies. With the help of his team, Roberts will continue to cultivate the space, making it not only the biggest indoor club ever but also a place to do more than play.
In making the best use of their space, Rhythm and Rally hosts weekly league nights along with small and large-scale tournaments. “We originally started with more frequent league nights, but we quickly realized that the more we offered, the less busy each one was.” They reduced the number of leagues to help create a sense of scarcity and ensure higher attendance and engagement, which worked to perfection. Additionally, the club offers themed pickleball nights and special events like “King and Queen of the Court” night. The club’s official name, “Rhythm and Rally Sports & Events”, also reflects its broader purpose of hosting more than just pickleball activities, which ensures that they truly maximize the immense space of the club. “We have enough space to where we can be running two, three, four different events all in one night,” Roberts says.
Rhythm and Rally excels in hosting large-scale tournaments, thanks to its expansive space, ample parking, and climate-controlled environment. The club has already proven its capabilities by successfully organizing various tournaments and offering convenient access to media trucks via the downstairs receiving dock. Its well-designed infrastructure and layout make it an ideal choice for major events, most notably USA pickleball and UTR Sports’ Golden Ticket Event this year and the WPT Amateur Invitational Championship in 2025.
Roberts went on to note that preparing for these large tournaments was a big undertaking, and something that he and his staff took very seriously. Preparatory measures like stocking up the pro shop, contracting additional part-time employees, and increasing cleaning standards are always added to tournament days. The meticulous preparation ensures that the club is always ready to deliver a seamless and enjoyable experience for all participants. “We want to make sure that the facility looks the exact same at 2pm as it did at 8am” Roberts explains. He believes that the overall environment significantly impacts the player experience. “People eat with their eyes first,” Roberts says, “the court is really the third or fourth thing players notice, following the welcoming atmosphere and the well-maintained amenities.” By prioritizing cleanliness and aesthetic appeal, the club ensures that every visit leaves a lasting positive impression on its members and visitors.
When developing a vision for the club, Roberts came to the conclusion that the more the merrier at his club. “Pickleball appeals to everyone. There are players who think they can beat Ben Johns, others are there just to have fun and have a few drinks after. If we can provide everything to all types of people, we capture all players in one facility.” As a continuous student of the industry, Roberts admits that this “everything to all people” vision is not the status quo for pickleball clubs. “Most clubs try to develop into very specific communities… we want to have all types of players at our club… with the amazing space that we have, that’s ultimately how we can run a profitable business.” As bold and hard of a task this is, Rhythm and Rally has the personnel, facility, and location to pull this off.
When giving advice to other clubs, Roberts aptly puts it “You just cannot be afraid to make mistakes. Even if you fall on your face, you are moving forward.” Roberts and his team encourage each other to be creative and put strategies to the test when building this club to what they hope it becomes. The ongoing motto for Roberts’ staff is “better everytime”, which speaks to the optimistic and driven mindset of Rhythm and Rally as a whole. Within its first year of opening, the club boasts around five hundred members and averages about one-thousand to fifteen hundred players a week coming through its doors.
Rhythm and Rally emerges not only as a premier destination for pickleballers, but also as a beacon of innovative urban revitalization. Spearheaded by Roberts and his team, the club’s transformation of the Macon Mall into a thriving sports facility showcases the power of collaborative efforts between public and private sectors. By repurposing an underutilized space, the club has not only revitalized the local community but has also set a new blueprint for pickleball facilities nationwide. With a commitment to continuous improvement and a diverse range of offerings, the club is poised to expand its influence and continue providing a top-tier experience for players of all skill levels. Rhythm and Rally stands as a testament to the transformative potential of visionary leadership and bold, community-driven initiatives.
