Pickleball booms in Central Texas From the cover
What’s going on?
Liberty Hill
Georgetown
Pickleball has been the fastest growing sport in the country for three years, according to a 2024 report from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, which said the sport had grown 223.5% in three years. The sport is widely predicted to continue gaining popularity. According to Pickleheads, an industry website that works alongside USA Pickleball, the industry may see an 11.3% compound annual growth rate for the sport’s market through 2028. “The pickleball community is really taking o,” said Adam Powell, general manager of The Crossover, a 240,000-square foot sports complex in Leander with two ice rinks, volleyball courts and more. Players say in addition to the gratifying and low- impact nature of the sport, the social aspect keeps them coming back for more. Apex will be geared toward fostering that. “It’s such a social sport,” said Bill Parodi, founder and CEO of Pickleplex Holdings, the parent company of the club and restaurant. Pickleball had a global market of $2.2 billion in 2024, and that number is expected to increase
Pickleball locations north of Austin Pickleheads, which maps locations where people can play pickleball, shows that there are several options in the Austin metro. 1 Freestyle Community Center 2 Cedar Park Recreation Center 3 Southwest Williamson County Regional Park 4 TopShot 5 Apex Pickleball Club (upcoming) 6 The Crossover to $9.1 billion by 2034, according to market.us. Powell said he’s seen a big increase in pickleball interest over the last few years, with an increased number of local leagues signing up for spaces at The Crossover. “The courts are full it seems like every possible hour of operation,” he said.
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SEWARD JUNCTION LOOP
Leander
2243
183A TOLL
175
SCOTTSDALE DR.
3
6
183
MAIN ST.
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2
S. VISTA RIDGE BLVD.
Cedar Park
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BRUSHY CREEK RD.
CYPRESS CREEK RD.
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SOURCE: PICKLEHEADSCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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The big picture
There are now 68,458 pickleball courts in the country, 18,455 of which were added in 2024, according to USA Pickleball. Texas saw the largest proportional increase in courts from 2023 to 2024, with o erings expanding by 14.5%, according to TeachMe.To, a company that partners people with freelance athletic coaches, including pickleball coaching. Locally, the Austin area has been dubbed “Amer- ica’s Pickleball Capital” by TeachMe.To. According to the site, there are 8,000 to 10,000 people who play pickleball at least twice per month in the city, and court reservation systems consistently show 70%-80% use during peak hours. And the sport is changing as it grows. Parodi said most players used to be over 45, but now a younger crowd is moving into the scene—a demographic shift he considered in planning his new Cedar Park club. In 2024, the 25-34 age bracket made up 28.8% of players nationally, the largest age demographic to play the game, according to Pickleheads, which partners with USA Pickleball.
Global pickleball market The pickleball market, which includes things like paddles, nets, apparel, balls, court construction and more, is projected to grow exponentially, reaching $9.1 billion in 2034, according to market.us.
Apparel
Footwear
Equipment
Actual growth
Forecasted growth
$10B
+313.6%
$8B
$6B
$4B
$2B
2024 2025* 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 $0 *AS OF JULY 2025
SOURCE: MARKET.USCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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