How Many People Play Pickleball? 2024 Sees All-Time High in Participation
Last Edited
Nov 14 2024
Category
News
For the third year in a row, pickleball has held its position as America’s fastest-growing sport.
According to the 2024 State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report by SFIA, participation surged by 51.8% between 2022 and 2023 alone, and an incredible 223.5% over the past three years.
This rapid growth has brought the sport to a participation rate of roughly 13.6 million Americans aged six and over, pulling almost even with outdoor soccer (14.1 million participants).
More importantly, the increase isn’t just in numbers; it’s in depth.
“CORE” players—defined as highly engaged, repeat participants—grew by an astonishing 111% year-over-year, marking a shift from casual to committed play.
The movement of so many casual players into CORE ranks has set a foundation for pickleball that few new sports achieve.
Who Plays Pickleball? A Sport with Cross-Generational Pull
Pickleball has long been typecast as a retiree’s game, but that takeaway has shifted dramatically over the last few years.
The most represented age group in 2023 was 25-34, with 2.3 million players—an age group typically dominated by traditional team sports.
Additionally, the sport added over 1 million players under the age of 18, underscoring its increasing youth appeal and promising future pipeline.
Related: Gen Z May Soon Comprise Pickleball's Largest Age Group
In 2023, every age group recorded year-over-year growth, dispelling the myth that pickleball is primarily a game for older players.
With players across age groups, pickleball now boasts a rare demographic range, reflecting its versatility and accessibility.
Building Courts to Meet Demand: $855 Million Needed to Keep Up
The infrastructure deficit is stark. Despite an impressive 55% growth in dedicated pickleball facilities and a 23% increase in total courts year-over-year, the shortage of dedicated courts remains a concern, particularly in urban areas.
While New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago made significant strides by doubling their dedicated courts per 10,000 residents, these major markets still lag significantly, averaging 92% below the national court density average.
According to SFIA's report, the industry needs $855 million to fund 24,500 new courts over the next 5-7 years.
This investment is essential to prevent bottlenecks in the sport’s growth, especially in regions where player demand far exceeds court availability.
More than a Trend: The Future Looks Bright for Pickleball
While some sports see bursts of popularity, pickleball’s diverse demographic base and strong CORE player numbers suggest that this is no passing trend.
The sport’s incredible stickiness (as seen in the CORE player conversion) indicates a level of engagement that could sustain growth over the long term.
But keeping players in the sport will require intentional efforts to prevent participant churn, which reached a high of 3.4 million lost players in 2023.
The challenge ahead: converting even more casual players into CORE participants and continuing to limit turnover to sustain pickleball’s momentum.
Courts per Facility: Outdoor Dominates, but Year-Round Options Expand
As outdoor play grows, particularly in public parks, demand for indoor options continues to rise in regions where seasonal weather limits outdoor play.
While 67% of courts are outdoor, the year-over-year growth rate for indoor facilities has lagged at 14% compared to 28% for outdoor.
Related: The Northeast is Lacking in Indoor Pickleball Facilities: Here's Why
Facilities averaging 4.2 courts each, down from 4.3 the previous year, highlight the growing need for multi-court facilities, especially as “mega-facilities” like Rhythm & Rally in Macon, GA (home to 32 courts) set a new standard.
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