Millennial Frenzy: Pickleball Sweeps the Nation with 8.9 Million Players and a Demand for 25,000 New Courts
In a sweeping surge of popularity that has captivated the millennial generation, pickleball has risen to astounding heights, boasting an impressive 8.9 million players as of 2022. A fresh report now reveals an urgent need for over 25,000 novel courts to cater to the relentless surge in both present and future demand.
This dynamic revelation stems from the comprehensive State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report, a joint endeavor between the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and the pickleball collective, Pickleheads. Their research, founded on a nationwide survey encompassing 18,000 individuals in the United States during 2022, unveils the extraordinary momentum behind this burgeoning sport.
At the heart of this phenomenon is pickleball’s unique blend of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, which has seen its player count escalate by a remarkable 85% from 2021. It is an incontrovertible fact: pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the nation, a testament to its resounding resonance across diverse demographics.
The data-driven narrative is unequivocal: to accommodate the swelling fervor for pickleball, the nation must erect a staggering 25,784 new courts in the years ahead. This ambitious endeavor comes with a price tag of $902 million, as revealed by the report. To put this into perspective, the current landscape boasts 51,937 pickleball courts scattered across more than 12,000 facilities throughout the United States.
SFIA’s president and CEO, Tom Cove, captures the essence of this sporting renaissance in his statement within the report: “The sustained growth of pickleball in the past six years is virtually unprecedented. Pickleball is booming, and it is here to stay.”
The race to meet this fervent demand has led to inventive solutions, including repurposing abandoned big-box stores within malls and adapting existing courts meant for other sports like basketball and tennis. An analogy likening the race for court space to a gold rush underscores the intensity of this endeavor, as stakeholders vie to establish their foothold.
While pickleball’s allure is universal, drawing enthusiasts from all walks of life, its impact on millennial culture is particularly striking. With an average player age of 35, the sport resonates profoundly with individuals aged 25 to 34. Astonishingly, it garners equal favor from the younger cohort aged 18 to 24, as well as the more seasoned generation, those aged 65 and beyond.
Multiple factors contribute to the pickleball frenzy. Its relatively easy learning curve and low-impact nature render it accessible across generations. Yet, its social facet should not be underestimated; pickleball has become a trendy pursuit, even morphing into a networking activity within the confines of Silicon Valley. This sociable nature, coupled with its adaptability to socially distanced play, partly explains its meteoric rise during the pandemic.
As pickleball’s influence surges, there’s an unforeseen aspect that warrants attention: the potential escalation of medical costs. In a notable analyst note by UBS in June, it was estimated that the sport could potentially account for $250 million to $500 million in medical expenses this year due to pickleball-related injuries. While its popularity soars, pickleball’s landscape continues to evolve, intertwining the joys of the sport with the pragmatic considerations of health and infrastructure.
