KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Pickleball continues to be the fastest growing sport in America. For the last three years combined, Pickleball has spiked 223% with every age group seeing a jump in participation, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
The popularity is increasing demand for Pickleball courts and indoor sports facilities in Central Florida and across the nation.
“Once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy to learn,” said 16-year-old Gwen Schmitz. “It’s a constant competitive household between the two of us, and it’s fun to be here. He enjoys it and he’s having fun, so I’m just here for the ride at this point.”
“As a dad and having a daughter, it’s not always easy to find things to do together and anything you can do to get them off their phones and doing something physical is something positive,” Tad said.
Gwen and Tad are getting Pickleball lessons at a new venue called Crush Yard in Kissimmee. It’s got 10 pickleball courts, bars, lounges, restaurant and meeting spaces. It’s all indoors, which is a big draw for some Floridians.
“I love it because it’s so hot in Florida and if you’re looking for something to do at 2 (o’clock) in the afternoon in June, this is an ideal setup where you’re protected from the elements,” Tad said.
General Manager Ben Sinon said the all-in-one entertainment venue was perfect for the location.
“It was an available property at a booming demographic market that’s growing. There’s a lot of tourist and convention business and there’s a lot of people in the area who are really passionate about Pickleball,” said Ben.
Crush Yard is just one of several new pickleball venues popping up across Central Florida over the last couple of months, bringing more options to the area for so-called “Pickleheads.”
“There’s more growth expected over the next handful of years, and with Olympic and college sports on the horizon, it’s just going to continue to grow,” Sinon said.
Click HERE to find a Pickleball court near you using the Pickleheads.com court search engine.