David Friedman and friends faced challenges playing pickleball in New York City due to limited courts and competition with other activities, particularly on crowded handball courts. This situation changed with the opening of his private facility, PKLYN, adding to the city’s growing total of courts. Pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in America with over 220% participation increase since 2020, has led entrepreneurs like Eric Ho to recognize the opportunity to create new facilities to meet demand in densely populated areas like NYC.
Until recently, David Friedman and his friends braved New York City parks and playgrounds to get their pickleball fix... "Tennis players here will murder you," he says.
Pickleball is America's fastest-growing sport, as you've no doubt heard by now. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, participation has increased by more than 220% since 2020.
That’s beginning to change, because some of those new players have become entrepreneurs focused on building new facilities.
'Everyone sees that as the primary [business] opportunity,' says Eric Ho, cofounder of NYC Pickleball, an online guide to the city's pickleball courts.
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