Pickleball's popularity is soaring in the Valley, with courts and tourneys being added rapidly
Within the last few years, pickleball has rapidly grown in popularity, offering opportunities for savvy entrepreneurs and established businesses alike. As a result, pickleball-themed restaurants, facilities, and courts are popping up all over the Valley and beyond. An estimated 36 million people tried the sport in the U.S. at least once between August 2021 and August 2022 according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals, while more than 8.5 million people played eight matches or more.
including such names as former Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, country music star Dierks Bentley and more. for a Utah-based group that hosts a professional tour of the sport. Effective Jan. 1, the group will be called the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association.
In a word, pickleball is everywhere. Pickleball courts are being added to at city parks, residential communities and hotels all across the Valley and the rest of the country to satisfy the ever-growing appetite for the game. Santschi says Chicken N Pickle founder Dave Johnson noticed three things during a trip to Phoenix in 2015 that prompted him to venture into pickleball: the courts were always full, people were full of energy and had genuine camaraderie, and the sport was easy to learn.
Additionally, Georgia-based Competitive Social Ventures is planning a Pickle and Social concept in Scottsdale. It will include indoor and outdoor courts, a restaurant and bar and event space.In another signal of pickleball's growing popularity, Selkirk Sport, a leading pickleball equipment brand, said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, when people were looking for new hobbies to keep themselves busy, Google searches for pickleball rose by 219%.
Although the J.W Marriott has had pickleball courts since 2004, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale just recently received requests from guests to offer pickleball. Michael Dowell, senior vice president of sales and marketing for national homebuilder Lennar Corp. in Arizona, said he persuaded his boss to make pickleball a part of the amenity package for residents in the Heritage Asante community in Surprise.
Although the community is still being developed, Dowell anticipates 2,500 to 3,000 residents to live there, many of whom he anticipates will indulge in pickleball. Dowel plans to add four to six more courts in additional neighborhoods around Asante and expects to build courts in every new community from here on out.Arizona has long been known for its sunny weather and scenic landscapes. The warm weather year-round makes Phoenix a hotbed for outdoor sports, whether it's golf or tennis.
The PPA is the premier professional pickleball league in the U.S. and provides players with the opportunity to compete at top venues for chunks of prize money. The 2022 PPA tour consisted of 20 stops in 13 states and featured the top-ranked players.
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