by Kelly Campbell
As 2023 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on what has been an incredible year in the pickleball universe.
From January until now, this has been another busy and significant year for pickleball growth, new developments, and pickleball headlines. Through the lens of everything that happened in 2023, we’re taking a look at what’s in store for 2024.
Most importantly, we want to thank all of you –– our users, partners, and supporters for making this such a memorable year of growth for TrackitHub. Special thanks to Elevate Chiropractic, Alala, Superlative Pickleball, USA Pickleball, Boys & Girls Club, Slam Master Pro, and Pickleball Rocks. We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.
Read on for more on what’s ahead in the coming year. We think that 2024 will be a smash.
TrackitHub & Premier Pickleball League
In 2024, TrackitHub is excited to continue our legacy as one of the best resources for pickleball clubs and facilities while transitioning into an exemplary league provider. Our Premier Pickleball League brings fresh and dynamic energy into the local pickleball scene. The flexibility of our leagues will revolutionize the way that we play and access pickleball as they allow both individuals and teams to sign up and play their games on their schedule.
Right now, we’re in action in Arizona, going strong until the end of April. And guess what? We’re dropping more leagues all over the country this spring, so stay tuned!
Big shoutout to the 600 folks who partied with us at the Pregame kickoff bash this year!
Professional Pickleball Growth –– PPA + MLP Merger, Sportsbetting & More
Perhaps one of the biggest 2023 pickleball headlines was the merge, then fall-out, then re-merge between the PPA and the MLP. The initial deal was set to transform the professional pickleball landscape as the two largest organizations planned to unite until the deal went sour, disappointing picklers everywhere. One positive to the fallout was that players were offered big money as each organization tried to grab and poach star players. As we know, the PPA and MLP eventually worked out a new, yet not finalized, deal, but the rollercoaster left us wondering where professional pickleball is headed. Soon after the new PPA and MLP deal, we learned that Major League Pickleball Founder Steve Kuhn would resign from his position. Kuhn’s resignation is a huge deal for the pickleball world, considering his legacy at the forefront of mainstream pickleball growth, and his contributions to the MLP. We wonder how the landscape of professional pickleball will change, which it likely will, and how the PPA and MLP merger will move forward, with his absence.
Another huge win for professional pickleball was the deal between PPA and Fanduel, which for the first time allowed pickleball sports betting. In 2024, we expect to see more audience engagement through sports betting, and we’re excited about all of the benefits that pickleball betting could bring to pickleball.
New Headquarters for USA Pickleball
One of the most exciting 2024 developments we know about is the new intended home for USA pickleball. Set to be one of the largest pickleball facilities in the world, PURE Pickleball™ plans to co-develop this Scottsdale-based site. Plans include 28 oversized indoor courts with private fencing and high-quality video and recording capabilities, 16 outdoor courts with professional lighting, two special event rooftop courts, a clubhouse with bar and restaurant, and a 500-seat stadium championship court in addition to various amenities like locker rooms, full gym, and childcare.
Pickleball for Great Causes
2023 was a great year for uniting public love for pickleball with public service. This year, we’ve seen numerous examples of pickleball being a source of revenue across communities and for charitable causes. Specifically, we’ve seen hundreds of events through Pickleball for the Cure for breast cancer awareness, celebrity fundraisers like Katy Perry’s Inaugural fundraising pickleball tournament, and other large-scale and small community-based events. As organizations like Pickleball for the Cure continue to grow, more celebrities find ways to raise money through dinking, and more people become involved in pickleball charity events, we can only expect that charitable pickleball will continue to grow in the New Year.
New (& Creative) Pickleball Facilities & Courts
It’s no surprise that in 2023 there were even more pickleball courts and major facilities built –– every year since the initial pickleball boom, we’ve expected this. There has been consistent growth with more and more professional and recreational pickleball courts developing all over the world. Parks have repurposed tennis courts and blacktops, hotels, and senior living facilities have added courts, schools have added pickleball courts to their campuses, and new entertainment and pickleball franchises are opening up and expanding. What has been different throughout 2024 is the creativity that has come with venue expansion. This year, we saw new and creative ways to give players access to courts. Most notably, in 2023, we explored pickleball in malls, with companies opening more and more indoor courts in deserted mall spaces, and AirBnB-style private backyard pickleball rentals through Swimply. In 2024, pickleball spaces will likely become even more creative to meet and serve growing demand, including the growth of temporary mobile courts. Companies like Pickle Roll have revolutionized the way we build pickleball courts. Now, rather than spending a ton of money and resources building permanent pickleball courts, there’s an option to purchase courts that convert flat surfaces to high-quality, professional pickleball courts. Not only is this great for pickleball player accessibility, it’s good for the environment to repurpose spaces, and will save money.
The Big Apple Pickle –– Pickleball’s New York Moments
Pickleball certainly made its mark on the Big Apple in 2023. In January, dinkers made national headlines over a NYC park dispute, and Central Park added a massive pickleball venue in April. Throughout the year, we saw numerous other pickleball popups throughout the five boroughs, with even more coming in 2024. In a city with millions of residents, it’s a big dill for pickleball to make such big headlines, and we’re excited to see how NYC Pickleball will continue to flourish.
Upcoming 2024 Tournaments
Here are some upcoming 2024 tournaments that we’re especially excited for:
SOURCES:
USA Pickleball
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