10 best American cities for pickleball enthusiasts, the new data show

Want yourself a pickle? These are the places you might like to live.


Which could have seemed a death Exercise fad During the pandemic became the Sport to the fastest growth in the United States for the third consecutive year. According to 2023 Participation report in the Pickleball Application , 14% of Americans (36.5 million people) played pickleball at least once the previous year. If you fall into this group, it is likely that you live near a pickleball field - but not all cities have seized the trend.

A New lawn classification Decomposes the 10 best American cities for pickleball enthusiasts. Analyzing the 200 largest cities in the country, they examined 11 different measures, including access to pickleball fields and tournaments, the size of the pickleball community and the local interest in sport. They then found a global score, a rank of access, a community rank and a rank of popularity. Curious to see if your city has made the list? Continue to read.

In relation: 5 tips to become a pro pickleball this year .

10 Best American cities for pickleball enthusiasts

10. Cincinnati

city skyline of Cincinnati, Ohio at dusk
istock

Global score: 35.43

Access rang: 7

Community ranging: 18

Rank of popularity: 32

Lawn Love reports that Cincinnati has the second largest number of pickleball fields (224) in the 200 cities, which may have to do with the various organizations dedicated to sport in the Metropolis of Ohio.

THE Cincinnati Pickleball Club claims to be the fastest growth pickleball club in Midwest, while the non -profit organization Pickleball in Sawyer Point Offers lessons, leagues, clinics and tournaments.

9. Tucson, Arizona

Tucson, Arizona, USA downtown skyline with Sentinel Peak at dusk. (Mountaintop
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Global score: 35.91 AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

Access rang: 5

Community ranging: 21

Rank of popularity: 41

Tucson is another city with a non -profit organization devoted to sport. Pickleball of the Tucson region (TAP) organizes tournaments, social and clinics, as well as defenders of the extended use of courts and judicial improvements.

Lawn Love's data show that Tucson is equal to four (with cincinnati, miami and surprise, Arizona) to have the third highest pickleball clubs. It also ranks fourth to have the most dedicated pickleball lands.

8. Charlotte, North Carolina

skyline of downtown charlotte north carolina
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Global score: 37.08

Access rang: 8

Community ranging: 15

Rank of popularity: 18

In this city of North Carolina, pickleball is as much a social activity as a training. In May, Charlotte welcomed the largest state pickleball tournament to date, where the 300 best professionals in the world were present, reported WSOC-TV .

Perhaps more unique is the recent opening of Rally , which presents itself as "interior and exterior pickleball terrains anchored by artisanal cocktail bars, high cuisine and a specialized coffee program".

More serious players can buy membership with Pickleball Charlotte .

In relation: The 10 NFL teams with the purest and purest fans, says new data .

7. Mesa, Arizona

cityscape photo of downtown Mesa, Arizona
istock

Global score: 38.36

Access rang: 2

Community ranging: 49

Rank of popularity: 52

Second city in Arizona to list, Mesa has the most dedicated courts just in Pickleball (166), according to Lawn Love. It also welcomes the most pickleball tournaments, including one Pickleball of the Major League (MLP) event.

Non-professional can benefit from Mesa Tennis & Pickleball Center , as good as Sunland Village East (SVE) Pickleball Club .

6. Saint-Louis

cityscape photo of St. Louis, Missouri at dusk
Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

Global score: 40.28

Access rang: 4

Community ranging: 14

Rank of popularity: 34

Saint-Louis pickleball community Make the headlines in April, when it was announced that the PAGAYER PICKLEBALL CLUB , an installation with nine indoor fields would take control of a closed bed store and beyond the store.

In addition, Lawn Love says that the city of Missouri has the second largest number of Pickleball facilities (52) and the third largest number of courts (216).

In relation: The 12 best American cities for outdoor adventures .

5. Orlando, Florida

lake eola park in orlando florida
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Global score: 41.59

Access rang: 6

Community ranging: 5

Rank of popularity: 19

It turns out that Orlando has much more to offer than Disney World. They also have the second largest number of dedicated pickleball lands, which include the interior courts of the Erase a sports center and outdoor courts at United States Tennis Association National Campus (USA) .

It should be noted that another Florida location was too small to make the list but is inofficically doubled " The capital of the world pickleball "The county of Naples has invested more than $ 4 million in pickleball facilities, reports Love Love." Paradise Coast also welcomes Minto Us Open Pickleball Championships , the biggest pickleball event in the world, with nearly 34,000 participants in 2022, "they add.

4. Chicago

Chicago skyline aerial drone view from above, lake Michigan and city of Chicago downtown skyscrapers cityscape, Illinois, USA
istock

Global score: 44.04

Access rang: 9

Community ranging: 3

Rank of popularity: 5

Lawn Love puts Chicago in fifth place for "most research on Google terms related to pickleball in the past 12 months". The city also has the fourth most important pickleball facilities.

Chicagoans love pickleball so much that Pickle Haus, a joint venture between a property developer and a tennis club operator, plans to open five "sports and entertainment on the theme of Pickles NBC 5 Chicago .

According to the media, the first Pickle haus will have 12 interior courts, including five "will have huts on the ground for private rallies and food services". There will also be an outdoor patio of almost 2,000 square feet for lawn games, a restaurant / bar and an event space of 1,500 square feet.

3. Las Vegas

cityscape photo of the Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada at dusk
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Global score: 44.48

Access rang: 3

Community ranging: 16

Rank of popularity: 17

These are not all casinos and nightlife in Sin City. Las Vegas also has the third largest number of dedicated pickleball shorts, reports Lawn Love.

It could also be the only city where you can play pickleball on a roof. As part of its 70,000 square foot pool terrace, The place The hotel and the casino have 12 permanent pickleball fields and a championship court, where they welcome the Pickleball las vegas open .

For those who prefer to stay in the field, the city recently approved a subsidy of $ 12 million to build a pickleball installation of 30 courts, according to ABC News Affiliate KTNV .

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2. Austin, Texas

austin texas skyline
Istock / Roschetzkyistockphoto

Global score: 44.59

Access rang: 12

Community ranging: 2

Rank of popularity: 9

As a state, Texas does not have so good, the classification of Lawn Love. The cities of Laredo and Pasadena both landed on the list of 10 worse Cities for pickleball enthusiasts, coming to numbers two and six respectively. Laredo is also tied to have the fewest pickleball installations from any city, while El Paso is equal to having the fewest pickleball clubs. Laredo, Pasadena and Brownsville are all equal to having the least Google research linked to pickleball.

But in Austin, things could not be more different. The next opening Austin Pickle Ranch As they say, "a sanctuary for outdoor fun with one of the largest pickleball facilities in the state of Texas with tasty bites, cool drinks, but above all, pickleball."

And according to Austin eater , there are nine other bars / restaurants which also have pickleball lands, including a barbecue chest point, a biergarten and an all -inclusive seaside resort.

1. New York

Aerial view of Central Park's Wollman Ice Skating rink converted into 14 pickleball courts
RBLFMR / Shutterstock

Global score: 76.65

Access rang: 1

Community ranging: 1

Rank of popularity: 1

Surprised to see the row of number one concrete jungle for such a discreet outdoor sport? According to Lawn Love, New York swept the competition, taking first place in each category.

"The city has the most Pickleball facilities, 75, and the courts, 279," they explain. "NYC also offers the most free courts, increasing public access to the game. Otherwise, legal reservation costs can be added, in particular with prices like $ 80 at $ 120 per hour at Central Park."

And speaking of Central Park, it can be expensive, but playing pickleball in one of the most emblematic places in the world is quite incredible. In April, the city opened 14 pickleball fields in Wollman Rink, which operates as a ice rink in winter, making it the "biggest installation of pickleball in the northeast", reported NBC 4 New York .

Why has pickleball become so popular?

people playing pickleball
BHPIX / Shutterstock

"With unique rules and a smaller court size than tennis, pickleball is a sport with low impact - which makes it more attractive for individuals of a wider age group," explains Jonathan Howe , PhD, a assistant master In the Department of Sports and Leisure Management at Temple University, as part of the report.

"Another factor to consider is the cost. Although it is not entirely accessible to everyone, sport is cheaper than many recreational sports requiring subscriptions to the club. A paddle is probably the most expensive need, going from $ 75 at $ 200, "he adds.

Lisa Farley , Edd, Associate Professor In the College of Education of Butler University, underlines in the report that pickleball can be played inside and out, "on dedicated pickleball fields, or badminton, tennis or basketball courts -the reused ", there are therefore more options to find a space. "You can play double or simple-it makes pickleball ideal for all ages and all capacities," she adds.

"With so many celebrities and athletes who also show their support, Pickleball is more and more attention", " Rachel Simon ,, editor , writing teacher and author of Pickleball for all , recount Better life .

James LeBron ,, Tom Brady , And Patrick Mahomes all have invested millions of dollars In MLP to extend sport and create new teams. And according to Vanity ,, George Clooney ,, Leonardo DiCAPRI , the Kardashians, Owen Wilson , And Larry David are all huge sport fans.

How to find a pickleball field near you.

pickleball paddles and ball on court
Glenrichardphoto / Shutterstock

Since sport has exploded in popularity, there are now websites and applications dedicated to the mapping of pickleball. Farley recommends Pickle ,, Pickleball + , And PLACES2PLAY .

She adds that many communities have pickleball clubs "which have advantages to finding shorts and competitions", and that most tennis clubs now offer pickleball.

But it is not only the large number of courts.

"In my opinion, a large installation of pickleball has not only high quality land, but acts as a social space for its players, whether by offering a restaurant, a bar service, other sports or even A meeting area for players mingle, "says Simon. "Pickleball is a very social sport, and a large installation should reflect this."


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