Pickleball: America's Fastest-Growing Sport

Out of all of the sports in the world, Pickleball is currently the fastest-growing sport in America. Increasing 51.8% from 2022 to 2023 and 223.5% over the past three years, pickleball has become loved by millions.

History Of Pickleball

Pickleball was created in 1965 on Bainbridge Island. At the time, Congressman of Washington State, Joel Pritchard, and businessman, Bill Bell, found their families with nothing to do one summer day. Pritchard’s property had an old badminton court, but not a full set of rackets. The families decided to improvise by lowering the net and using ping-pong paddles with a plastic ball to play.

Later Pritchard and Bell introduced the game to their friend, Barney McCallum, which then led them to create a set of rules. Two years later, the first permanent pickleball court was built in Pritchard's neighbor's yard, Bob O’Brian. In the spring of 1976, the world's first pickleball tournament was held at the South Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington. By 1990, pickleball was being played in all 50 states.

Appeal of Pickleball

So many people wonder why pickleball is so popular, and while it is an excellent source of exercise, it is also a very convenient game and enjoyable social activity. As Pritchard and Bell highlighted, the original purpose of the game was for the whole family to play together. This is still the case today, as pickleball is known for its simplicity and multiplayer aspect, which leads to family and friend bonding.

Pickleball has brought together thousands of communities through the establishment of local courts and tournaments. Unlike many other sports, pickleball doesn't require much space and or equipment. A pickleball paddle is only 15.5’’- 17’’ in length and 7’’-8.25’’ in width and the ball doesn't require any air to be played with.

With the dramatic increase, pickleball now hosts top-level tournaments all over the U.S., allowing the opportunity for competitive players to show off their skills at some of the best facilities around the country. 

Statistics and Showings

In the U.S. alone there are over 36 million recorded pickleball players and a known number of 50,003 official courts, with over 12,000 facilities to play at. According to USAPickleball, over 78,000 players hold a pickleball membership, which is a 15% increase since 2023. The 2023 Biofreeze National Pickleball Championship tournament had over 3,000 registered players. There were over 50,000 attendees and 2.6 million TV viewers. This year, in Mesa, Arizona,  the 41-court site, Arizona Athletic Grounds, is set to host the 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships and only expects to see an increase in numbers compared to last year.

There are three major pro tours of pickleball which are the Major League Pickleball (MLP), the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), and the American Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP). Between these three pro leagues, in 2023, there were 47 major pickleball tournaments across the U.S. with a total prize pool of around $10 million. 

As time goes on, pickleball seems like it will remain a loved sport throughout America, and will only continue to bring communities, families, and friends together.

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