4 mins read//
The explosive popularity of pickleball and its legions of rabid players should have the attention of restaurant, bar, and hotel operators.
In fact, the sport may just result in the next Topgolf-esque eatertainment concept.
According to an October 2022Â Fortune article, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America for three years running. That article follows previous coverage from an array of publications that come to the same conclusion.
In Canada, the popular sport is also growing fast. It’s up against soccer, lacrosse, and cricket, but the numbers are impressive. In 2020, estimates showed 350,000 Canadian households playing pickleball. As of last year, that number was growing past 900,000.
Another sign that the sport is gaining incredible traction throughout North America? Doctors are encountering growing numbers of pickleball injuries. The Journal of Emergency Medicine says that about 19,000 people suffer pickleball injuries per year.
That may not seem like a lot when considering how many Americans play. According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals, there are 36.5 million Americans playing, from beginners to professionals.
Speaking of professional pickleball, there are professional leagues and teams. And those teams have the attention—and backing—of big-name sports celebrities. Major League Pickleball (MLP) boasts investments by Lebron James, Draymond Green, and Kevin Love. Tom Brady and Kim Clijsters are investing in an MLP expansion team.
Attention-grabbing Statistics
There’s a website—Pickleheads—that helps people locate pickleball courts. When I visit the site it shows me three casino resorts with courts immediately.
And the site just happens to have a page of useful statistics. I choose to accept that these stats are accurate.
Those who want to take a look themselves can do so by following this link. However, I’m going to share a few below:
- Pickleball growth: 158.6 percent over the last three years
- Top age bracket: 18 to 34 years old
- Compound annual growth rate through 2028: 7.7 percent
Also per Pickleheads, the only popular sports with higher participation rates than pickleball are running and hiking.
Ren Ecosystem