Move Over Soccer, There’s a New Sport for America to Obsess Over

New sports developing in a country is always a moment of great excitement and anticipation. Much like the resurgence of an old trend, it fills people, in this case athletes, with a sense of new opportunities on the horizon. While Lionel Messi’s arrival into the MLS has left American sports fans absolutely ecstatic, the fastest-growing sport in the country isn’t soccer. In fact, it’s something you might have only heard of but never witnessed – Pickleball.

The sport has taken the country by such a storm that authorities have begun turning old, unused tennis courts and roller-hockey rinks into pickleball courts. They are also in the process of constructing brand-new spaces solely dedicated to pickleball due to the rapidly growing demand for the sport.

The Rise of Pickleball

Pickleball was invented in 1965 in Washington by blending parts of tennis, badminton, and Ping-Pong. While it was earlier reserved for retirement communities, country clubs, and the elite, the sport has now become increasingly mainstream. In fact, between 2019 and 2021, the number of players involved in the sport has increased by a whopping 40%. In 2022, there are over 4.8 million picklers or pickleball players in the US alone.

While casual players are aged under 55, the ultras, who take the sport very seriously, fall under the under-24 bracket. This statistic in itself is highly reflective of the direction in which the sport is heading. With this, we have also seen a rise in the pickleball economy, with major investments from various brands.

Pickleball equipment, which is relatively inexpensive, has contributed to the majority of sales on Temu; an online discount-heavy e-commerce site. For example, a pickleball paddle set, that includes two paddles, four balls, and a carry bag, is available for just $16.91. This makes the barrier for entry into the sport fairly low, boosting participation across economic demographics.

What the Future Has in Store

Over and above the upward trajectory, customers seem to be very happy getting into the sport based on their reviews. Temu’s deals are driving an increasing amount of young athletes to consider pickleball as a very valid option to display their physicality. The once-fringe sport has now become hard to ignore. In fact, as long as the economic barrier for entry remains low enough, there’s nothing to stop the sport from becoming increasingly popular.

Whether you’re a veteran athlete or just a young kid looking for a hobby, pickleball could be next for you. What makes the sport even more appealing is that it can be played in any setting. The opportunities for pickleball to take over are limitless and it seems like a matter of time before someone begins to institutionalize the sport and capitalize on it’s exponentially rapid growth. So, have you ever played pickleball? If not, would you consider it? Let us know in the comments below.