![Pickleball](https://d141cscbo5t2xj.cloudfront.net/sites/4140/rick-meyer-troy-mo-blog-1-2.png)
First created in Bainbridge Island, Washington in 1965 by three fathers looking to give their bored kids something new to do by incorporating rules and equipment from several sports into one, pickleball has seen extraordinary success in the last two years in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The sport is easy to learn, low cost and is considered low-impact, and allows people to connect socially while maintaining social distancing which is what makes it appealing across all age groups.
Endorsements from star athletes ranging from LeBron James and Tom Brady are brining more high profile attention to the sport and it is attracting a new wave of sponsors like Sketchers and Anheuser- Busch (cnbc.com).
But, what does this mean for real estate investors/investments? It means that, in order to keep up with pickleball demand, America will need approximately 26,000 new pickleball courts in the coming years. Tom Cove, president of Sports & Fitness Industry Association, states “The sustained growth of pickleball in the past six years is virtually unprecedented. Pickleball is booming and it is here to stay.” (businessinsider.com).
Across the nation, tennis courts are being replaced and pickleball courts are moving in. Investors are shoring up big money by building new facilities or renovating existing buildings to dedicate to the sport. In Florida, real estate developers have invested $180 million dollars into a 15-court facility call The Pickleball Club that expects to have 600 members (cnbc.com).
The restaurant-entertainment model is also gaining traction. Chicken N Pickle is a unique indoor/outdoor entertainment complex whose mission is to provide an atmosphere that fosters fun, friendship and community for all ages. In fact, you can find one as near as Main Street St. Charles https://chickennpickle.com/location/st-charles/.
Those who are brave enough to take hold of the latest trends and run with them before others do are the ones who reap the most reward. Do your research, have a trusted real estate agent like me at your side, and let’s talk about investing in America’s newest sport: pickleball.