sportstyle

46 • July/August 2022 sportstyle • sportstylemag.com SPECIAL REPORT / PICKLEBALL everywhere! At first, pickleball court lines were added to many tennis courts across the country; now, dedicated pickleball facilities are the new wave throughout the United States, some for competition play and other entertainment venues aimed at uplifting the family-friendly aspect of the game. Apps like PicklePlay and places2play.org are a great place to start to find pickleball courts available near you, or where you're traveling to. 7. Pickleball Lessons and Clinics There is certainly no shortage of pickleball lessons or clinics at pickleball facilities all throughout the US! Clinics and lessons are a great way to sharpen your game and learn more about the sport. If you're looking to strengthen your game, there are options to find a USA Pickleball Ambassador in your area that is eager to volunteer their time to teach you how to play or seek professional pickleball players that are often on the road hosting valuable clinics at unique destinations across the world. 8. Pickleball Tournaments What's incredible about pickleball is you feel like an athlete no matter your age as there are numerous tournaments across the US to participate in! From lower-level tournament play to pro tours such as the APP Tour and PPA Tour, and the USA Pickleball National Championship Series, all levels of pickleball play takes place at tournaments. In addition, tournaments are a great way for pickleball brands to interact with spectators and players and get pickleball fanatics to learn more about their brand. USA Pickleball has all the info needed for tournaments and larger events at usapickleball.org/tournaments. 9. Pickleball Travel Opportunities Pickleball is making its way to many iconic hotels and resorts all over the world. Most notably are hotels such as the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Mesa, AZ., the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center in Hilton Head Island, SC., and the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, CA.. Of these three spectacular resorts, each feature on-site pickleball courts with hourly court time, group instruction, and one-on-one instruction with a certified pickleball instructor. All three destinations offer full-service pro shops as well where pickleball brands can sell merchandise and connect with guests that are interested in learning more about the game. 10. Pickleball Marketing Opportunities As America's fastest growing sport, and being a popular multi-generational game that all friends and family members can enjoy by just popping up a court in your driveway, the opportunities for brands to connect with fans of the game are endless. Between tournaments, magazines ads, online advertising, experiential marketing at events and more, there are more than plenty of opportunities for growing your business with pickleball marketing. Some notable marketing opportunities for pickleball brands include: • Digital marketing • Print advertising • Pro player sponsorships • Celebrity endorsements • Tournament and event sponsorships • Collaborative Partnerships with other brands. n If you're looking for more information on how to market your brand within the pickleball space, contact Laura Gainor, owner of Vossberg Gainor Pickleball Marketing, at laura@vossberggainor.com We're fortunate to have watched this exponential boom of America's fastest growing sport and the fun, social and active lifestyle it brings! Visit PickleballintheSun.com and follow along as we share some of the top pickleball destinations and all of us enjoying the pickleball lifestyle.

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