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With a growth rate of more than 200% over the last six years, pickleball continues to be America’s fastest-growing participation sport. Meanwhile, activities from one end of the Rio Grande Valley to the other show why South Texas is a big driver of pickleball’s national growth.
On South Padre Island, the Pickleball on Padre Tournament draws to a close today after drawing more than 1,000 participants over the course of the seven-day event. Hosted by the South Padre Island Convention Center and Isla Grand Beach Resort, Pickleball on Padre included open play, tournament play, and instructional clinics led by ITPTA Level II instructor, John Raschilla.
“Pickleball has something for everybody,” Raschilla said. “What I want to make sure I bring to the people is to teach the beginners all of the basic skills, and for the experienced player we had instruction on ‘Dynamite Doubles’ strategies. Pickleball helps the spirit, the mind, and the body, which is why I think so many people are taking it up.”
Meantime, in Mission, construction is nearly complete on a $2.7 million, 21,500 square-foot sports complex that will include four pickleball courts, seven padel ball courts, a restaurant and bar. The RGV Padel Club is the second such facility built by Hector Ronquillo, who opened his first facility in McAllen in April 2024.
Ronquillo hopes to be open in Mission by the last week of March so that Winter Texans can get a look at the facility before they head back home.
“The Winter Texans are responsible for making pickleball popular here,” Ronquillo said. “We know they have pickleball courts in many of the parks, but it will be very different here. There’s a community. You’re going to be seeing people drinking, and eating, and we’re going to have a pro shop. Eventually we hope to have a league for players 55 and over.”
According to USA Pickleball, Ronquillo’s McAllen location was among the 4,000 new pickleball venues that opened across the United States in 2024, bringing the total to 15,910 courts nationwide. The association’s court database known as “Pickleheads” now includes 68,458 courts, with 18,455 new courts added in 2024. Pickleheads shows there are 24 pickleball venues across the Rio Grande Valley from South Padre Island to Palmview.
USA Pickleball has 2,051 dedicated ambassadors promoting the sport across the country. One of them is Claude LePlante, a Quebecker who winters at Victoria Palms in Donna.
“We have eight courts here at Victoria Palms, and on a sunny day all eight courts will be full,” LePlante said. “I’d say we have about 38 to 40 people here who play pickleball on a regular basis. I think pickleball is popular with seniors because it’s accessible. Some people are very competitive about it, but most are very sociable, which is another reason the sport is popular.”
Data compiled from various organizations show from 2020 to 2021, the number of pickleball players in the U.S. grew by 14.8%. From 2022 to 2023, pickleball grew by 51.8%, and in the three years between 2021 and 2024, pickleball grew by 223.5%. With the fastest growth being among Gen Z (1990-2010), there’s no indication pickleball’s popularity will wane anytime soon.