That distinctive thwack echoing from Oceanside to Del Mar? It’s the sound of North County San Diego embracing pickleball at breakneck speed. Driven by surging demand, cities are investing heavily in courts, players are skewing younger, and the professional game is drawing serious crowds and betting interest. Here’s the data behind the phenomenon.
Walk past any North County park these days, and the soundtrack is unmistakable: the sharp pop of plastic ball meeting paddle, punctuated by laughter and friendly shouts. You probably noticed that pickleball is all the rage in the community. Local courts are packed with players of all ages from morning to night. This explosion is fueled by smart infrastructure spending, a surprisingly young player base, and a professional scene gaining national traction.
Cities Scramble to Build Courts
The demand is undeniable, and North County municipalities are responding with significant investments. Imperial Beach is moving forward on plans for new courts at Sports Park, a project estimated to cost $750,000 to $1 million. This mirrors a county-wide urgency. Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Oceanside are actively converting underutilized tennis courts and constructing dedicated pickleball facilities.
This pressure recently led the Vista City Council to decide to add eight new pickleball courts at Brengle Terrace Park. These will be created by converting underutilized tennis courts, a common approach given that a single tennis court can accommodate four pickleball courts. The decision to expand at Brengle Terrace, where hundreds play daily, aims to meet the growing need and long wait times for players. The conversion at Brengle Terrace is expected to take around six months and cost approximately $40,000 per court.
Private ventures like The HUB Pickleball add in leagues and coaching. Crucially, volunteers and USA Pickleball Ambassadors organize free clinics and open play, creating a welcoming entry point. The scale is national: over 68,000 known courts existed in the U.S. by 2024, with 130+ new locations added monthly early in 2025. Yet, analysts estimate $855-$900 million is still needed nationwide to meet future facility demand.
Players Defy the Stereotype
Who’s driving this? The image of pickleball as solely a senior activity is outdated. National data reveals that the average age of an avid player is 34.8 years old. More strikingly, over 70% of these dedicated players are aged 18-44, with the 25-34 year-old bracket being the single largest group (16.7% of all participants in 2023). Youth involvement is soaring too – over 1 million children under 18 played nationwide in 2023. Men currently make up 59.1% of players, women 40.9%.
Financially, players often come from solid economic backgrounds, with average household incomes frequently reported between $75,000 and $125,000, rising at private clubs. The appeal? It offers a pretty accessible workout with lower impact than tennis. But consistently, players cite the social draw. Things like the easy atmosphere, the chance to connect and the instant community on the courts.
Betting Markets Take Notice
This rising professional profile inevitably intersects with sports betting. For North County residents engaged in wagering, pickleball presents a growing niche. A key development came in late 2023 when the PPA partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook, bringing regulated pickleball betting to several states. While still developing compared to major leagues, its presence on established platforms signals that bookmakers recognize its competitive action and audience.
If you’re looking to get into sports betting, there are plenty of resources out there to help you compare promotions. There are a variety of sportsbook promos that offer valuable benefits when you sign up. Websites now break down sign-up bonuses, free bets and loyalty programs from different sportsbooks, making it easier for you to figure out the details. This also highlights how pickleball is getting more popular in the sports world overall.
Professional Scene Gains Momentum
While community play thrives, the pro game is accelerating rapidly. Tours like the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) are expanding, attracting top talent and increasing prize money. Over 320,000 fans attended PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP) events in 2024. That’s a 40% increase from 2023.
Revenue from ticket sales finally surpassed amateur registration fees for the first time. Player earnings reflect the growth; the roughly 130 pros under contract with MLP and PPA collectively earned over $30 million in 2024. Notably, female contracted athletes averaged salaries of $260,000, exceeding the highest-paid WNBA player.
Broadcast coverage surged, with over 350 hours airing nationally on FOX, CBS and ESPN in 2024. The dedicated Pickleballtv streaming service saw over 1 billion minutes watched. A landmark moment: the PPA Mesa Arizona Cup on FOX attracted 501,000 viewers, setting a pro pickleball record and outdrawing that December’s MLS Cup on the same network. Sponsorship revenue for the major tours jumped 50% in 2024.
San Diego Hosts the Big One
North County’s pickleball obsession is part of a regional push to establish San Diego as a pickleball epicenter. The premier event, the 2025 Pickleball National Championships, takes over the Barnes Tennis Center November 15-23. Expect the nation’s best players and thousands of fans. The economic impact is substantial; the 2024 Nationals in Mesa, Arizona, generated $3.6 million for the host city, and San Diego anticipates a similar or larger boost.
The local tournament circuit stays active too, like the San Diego Senior Games pickleball event in Oceanside (August 21-24, 2025). Facility development continues beyond events, with private and public investments creating complexes offering coaching and social spaces. Even unconventional venues adapt: the national trend of converting vacant big-box stores into “picklemalls” is gaining steam, and pickleball courts are now the most popular amenity request at campgrounds, surpassing Wi-Fi.
Growing Pains and Cultural Shifts
The pickleball surge in Encinitas is creating excitement at the Bobby Riggs Racket and Paddle Club, which has expanded from seven tennis courts to 22 pickleball courts. This growth, however, has led to noise complaints from nearby residents. Owner Steve Dawson, a professional player, is addressing these concerns by proposing quieter paddles and soundproof barriers. A grassroots campaign, “Save Bobby Riggs,” has also been launched to support funding for improvements. Meanwhile, the city is enforcing noise ordinances that limit play to seven courts until compliance is met.
North County San Diego’s embrace of pickleball is a measurable shift. Backed by millions in local investment, driven by a diverse and unexpectedly young player base, and amplified by a professional scene drawing crowds and sponsors, the sport has fundamentally altered the recreational landscape. With the National Championships landing in San Diego and courts continuing to multiply, the resonant thwack of pickleball is now a defining feature of the region’s active, connected communities.
