How Pickleball Is Filling a Void in CRE
It’s official. For the third year in a row, the fastest growing sport in the United States is pickleball (according to enthusiasts of the sport at Pickleheads). Odds are good that you’ve already heard of the trend, had a friend fall victim to its not-quite tennis, not-quite ping pong charm, or maybe you’ve been bitten by the pickleball bug yourself. Despite plenty of skepticism, this fad has refused to die down, and commercial real estate investors are starting to take notice. But why pickleball, and what sort of impact can this casual recreational activity have on the CRE landscape? Today, let’s take a swing at de-mystifying the surprising impact of pickleball. What is Pickleball, Anyway?For those who are more than an arm’s length away from the game, pickleball may just seem like a game with a funny name that’s too similar to a number of other more well-established sports. Are there really enough things that make pickleball unique enough to have a draw all on its own? Well, based on its sustained growth, signs seem to indicate that it does. Pickleball is a sport that can be played competitively with two individuals facing off, or in the form of doubles,