February 5, 2025
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the nation and is taking the country by storm.
Fort Lauderdale is set to become the pickleball capital of the country thanks to the opening of The Fort, the world’s first pickleball stadium complex. The Fort’s soft opening is underway, with the official grand opening for this global pickleball center set for this spring.
While this site is like no other in the country, the best comparisons would be to some of the top training centers in the tennis world like the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
What The Fort has in common with these sporting destinations is a commitment to training and showcasing future champions while growing the sport within the local community. In just its first week, The Fort hosted the Humana APP Fort Lauderdale Open and attracted over 1,200 players from across the country. This inaugural event was televised by CBS Sports, letting the world know that Fort Lauderdale is a major hub for pickleball.
“The broader complex is still visibly under development — the marquee stadium is yet to open, as are the property’s food and beverage components. Upon completion, the Fort will include a dazzling lakeside component (appropriately dubbed Lakeside) with a restaurant and recreational spaces for watersports rentals, bocce, beach volleyball, darts, and more,” according to the Miami New Times.
Here’s what this means for our community.
Fort Lauderdale will be the home for national tournaments that will drive tens of thousands of hotel room nights annually.
National broadcasts of tournament action live from Fort Lauderdale will showcase the live-work-play lifestyle that’s unique to our city.
The Fort will likely be a major attraction for meeting planners booking conferences at the brand-new Broward County Convention Center.
The opening of The Fort more than doubles the number of courts available citywide for residents and visitors.
Partnerships with local schools will introduce the sport to kids while encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle.
Whether you play pickleball or not, Fort Lauderdale residents get to experience a brand-new outdoor amenity.
By The Numbers:
Over 36 million people play pickleball annually in the United States at over 10,000 different courts.
A 2022 study ranked pickleball as the third most popular recreational activity in the country, behind biking and running.
Florida has the 2nd most pickleball courts in the country.
While the sport is incredibly popular with seniors, the average age of players is 35.
What does it all mean? With the continued growth of the sport in Florida and across the country, it’s clear that the future of pickleball is in Fort Lauderdale.