Why You NEED to Build a Pickleball Court in 2024!
If you’re looking for the best way to add value and interest to your commercial investment property, outdoor restaurant, apartment complex, university, gym, city park, retirement community, country club, or other commercial property, we have two words for you: pickleball court!
And if those two words didn’t convince you outright, keep reading and we’ll explain to you in more detail why you NEED to build a pickleball court in 2024!
What Is Pickleball?
For the uninitiated, pickleball is like a cross between tennis and badminton played with a wiffle ball and a ping pong paddle—and if you already know what pickleball is, that oversimplification probably hurt a little bit and we’re sorry!
Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a city in Washington state that can be accessed by ferry. The story behind pickleball is about three dads who were unimpressed with their kids’ boredom at their usual summertime activities. They did as dads tend to do, and they fixed it… by inventing a whole new game for the families to play together.
Since then, pickleball has developed from its humble, handmade beginnings to a sport that’s popular throughout the United States and Canada, with its popularity now reaching to many European and Asian countries picking up the sport as well.
How Popular Is Pickleball?
It’s no question that pickleball is popular and its popularity is still rising! According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA)’s Topline Participation Report, pickleball’s popularity has increased at an unprecedented rate of 85.7% year over year and by 158.6% over three years! In 2022, with 8.9 million participants, the number of new participants in 2022 was more than the total number of participants in 2021.
Who Is Pickleball For?
Pickleball Is for All Ages
Few sports are as popular with every age as pickleball. The average age of pickleball participants is 35 and the 25-34 age group has the most participants. Tied for second place are the 18-24 year old and 65+ year old age groups. Pickleball is also easy for kids to learn and play.
Pickleball Is Gender-Neutral
Unlike many other sports, it’s common and expected to play pickleball with and against players of different genders and ages. In 2021, the gender breakdown of pickleball players was around 60% men and 40% women. Women had a 17.6% year over year growth in 2021, outpacing men at a 13% year over year growth rate.
Pickleball Is for Small Businesses
Where a niche exists, the market follows, and pickleball’s recent skyrocketing popularity over the past few years has been quite the boon for small businesses who were already involved with the sport or able to pivot their business to get involved. The pickleball paddle market alone was estimated at $152.8 million in 2022.