Bremen is playing! New pickleball court delights athletes in Huchting

Bremen is playing! New pickleball court delights athletes in Huchting

A new sport inspires the people of Bremen: Pickleball! How buten and within reports, this game, imported from the USA, is enjoying growing popularity. Pickleball is quick to learn and is fun for young and old. The game is played in either singles or doubles over an 86 cm high net and has a playing field size that is similar to a badminton doubles court. The rackets are reminiscent of table tennis bats, while the rules and net structure are based on tennis. A soft, perforated plastic ball provides a unique playing feel.

Where could this all be heading? Millions of people in the United States have already succumbed to the pickleball virus. From 3.3 million players in 2018, the number rose to 13.6 million in 2023 - and that's just the tip of the iceberg when you consider the 311% increase over the last three years, like PB Pro Pickleball determines. In Germany we are still in our infancy, but there is also initial progress here: the first real pickleball court with a special surface that is also used in Grand Slam tennis tournaments was opened in Bremen-Huchting. The costs for the placement were estimated at around 25,000 euros.

The upswing in Bremen

Coach Matthias Renner, who offers both tennis and pickleball training, sees great potential in this sport. The transition is particularly easy for people with previous tennis experience, but even those who are completely new to the game can have a lot of fun with the game. The new court expands the possibilities for making pickleball popular in Bremen and will certainly help many more players try their luck on the court.

But what exactly makes pickleball so attractive? In addition to the ease of learning, the social component, the positive impact on health and the opportunity to be active in different age groups also speak in favor of the sport. The younger generation also appreciates this: 21% of pickleball players are 6 to 17 years old, while around 30% of all players are in the 18 to 34 year old age group Pickleheads shows.

What do the numbers say?

• Von 2018 bis 2023 gab es einen Anstieg von 311% bei den Pickleball-Spielern in den USA.
• Derzeit gibt es in den USA rund 19.8 Millionen Spieler, was einer Steigerung von 45.8% im Vergleich zu 2023 entspricht.
• Die Zahl der Pickleball-Courts in den USA beträgt bereits über 68,000 und wächst täglich weiter.

Another reason for the rapid rise of this sport is the support and interest of celebrities. Stars like Tom Brady and Kim Clijsters have brought pickleball into the spotlight, increasing the game's appeal and visibility. The sport's popularity is also beginning to grow internationally, with tournaments taking place in Europe and Asia.

In addition, the global potential of pickleball is estimated: the market will grow from 1.5 billion dollars in 2023 to up to 4.4 billion dollars by 2033. Bremen could use its opportunity to become part of this exciting trend and make pickleball a permanent fixture in the sports landscape.