Pickleball Stats that Point to a Profitable Business Venture

Sports and recreation have been a profitable business venture for a long time in the U.S. Many people enjoy active pastimes, which have also proven good for general health and physical fitness. Variety in activities is also appreciated, and one of the newest sports to emerge in America is pickleball. Referred to in the media as “the fastest-growing sport in America,” pickleball has seen tremendous growth in popularity, making it a prime business opportunity for entrepreneurs like you. But a smart businessperson doesn’t solely rely on reputation and hunches; data is important to back up claims. Let’s take a look at the pickleball stats and see just how great a potential for business success it offers.
More Players, More Customers
Perhaps one of the most important pickleball stats is the number of people who participate. After all, for a pickleball business, these people make up your customer base. According to a March 2023 report from the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), about 48.3 million people in the U.S. have played pickleball at least once, and pickleball information website Pickleheads.com reports as of 2024, the biggest pickleball-playing demographic is the 18-34 bracket.
On top of that, pickleball information website The Pickleball Dinks reports there were 47 professional pickleball tournaments in 2023. Not only does pickleball have substantial popularity among casual players, there’s a market for professional play as well, showing pickleball isn’t just a fad, but an emerging mainstream sport, with the potential to bring in crowds.
The growth of pickleball’s popularity has been steady in recent years. According to Google Trends, interest in pickleball has grown by about 550% since 2019. Not only is there a substantial existing customer base for the sport and businesses catering to it, but evidence also shows that it’s growing, making it a prime industry for new businesses to get their start, including facilities for players to participate, practice, and introduce others to pickleball.
Untapped Potential Markets
Another set of pickleball stats that’s important to consider is the number of facilities and businesses catering to the needs of pickleball players, both experienced and newcomers. According to a January 2024 USA Pickleball report, there are about 50,003 known pickleball courts. In comparison, nonprofit trade association Racket Industry Research reports there are 270,000 tennis courts in the U.S.
The presence of pickleball is growing throughout the U.S., but it’s still only at a fraction of what more established sports like tennis currently hold. This is further evidence of the great potential that has yet to be tapped, and businesspeople like you could be the first to provide many local markets with a novel form of entertainment and physical activity.
There’s also an apparent concentration of pickleball facilities, most of which have multiple courts. According to pickleball stats from USA Pickleball and Pickleheads.com, there are between 11,885 – 13,969 facilities throughout the U.S. However, only two states – California and Florida – have more than 1,000 pickleball facilities. That means there’s a great deal of unclaimed territory for anyone with the vision and ambition to establish the first pickleball business in those areas.
Plenty of Profit Potential
Finally, ambitious businesspeople may like to know the financial pickleball stats. Market research company Business Tech News reported that as of 2022, the most recent year available, the global pickleball market was valued at $1.3 billion and is forecasted to reach nearly $2.4 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.19%. As the country where pickleball originated, the U.S. naturally has most of this market share, which means opening a pickleball business in the U.S. will grant access to the bulk of this market.
Time to Get in the Game
The sport of pickleball is going through a boom, a meteoric rise in the U.S. and beyond. A December 2022 article in Harvard Economics Review notes that pickleball “appears to show large potential as a sport and a business. As more investors, including celebrity investors, fund the growth of pickleball, the sport will reach wider audiences and encourage new players to get involved.”
The strength of the pickleball industry and the potential it offers eager, go-getter businesspeople is only enhanced by the appeal it offers as a fresh, new way to take part in physical fitness and active recreation. But ambitious entrepreneurs shouldn’t wait too long. With the way it’s growing, pickleball may reach the widespread popularity of similar sports like tennis and racquetball, and quickly. While competition can be healthy, being among the first to invest will give you a substantial advantage in staking a claim in the market.
Get in Early with The Pickle Pad
We’re excited to welcome ambitious businesspeople like you to our fledgling franchise in the pickleball industry. As a part of the Indoor Active Brands franchise family, we provide franchisees like you with the experienced mentoring and support services you need, along with a business model created by seasoned indoor activity businesspeople. We want passionate, engaged entrepreneurs like you to bring our brand dedicated to fun and socializing to your community. Fill out and submit a franchise form today to learn more about your franchising opportunity with The Pickle Pad.
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