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By some distance, pickleball was the fastest-growing sport in the United States in 2023, its participation rising by 52% from the previous year. Now, a first-of-its-kind Pick ‘Em game is driving digital engagement and helping the PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) understand more about its expanding fanbase.
In the three-year period after 2020, pickleball exploded in the United States, <a class="app-aware-link " href="https://thepickleballplayer.com/pickleball-popularity-statistics-demographics-infographic/" target="_self" rel="noopener" data-test-app-aware-link="">growing a staggering 158% </a>in nationwide popularity and establishing itself as the country’s fastest growing sport.
At an amateur level, there are estimated to be <a class="app-aware-link " href="https://thepickleballplayer.com/pickleball-popularity-statistics-demographics-infographic/" target="_self" rel="noopener" data-test-app-aware-link="">over 44,000 pickleball courts in the U.S.</a> Meanwhile, high profile investments by legendary athletes like Lebron James and Tom Brady helped boost its professional appeal, and <a class="app-aware-link " href="https://usapickleball.org/about-us/organizational-docs/pickleball-annual-growth-report/" target="_self" rel="noopener" data-test-app-aware-link="">over 2.6 million viewers </a>tuned into the 2023 National Championships in Texas.
So with a rapidly growing fanbase and a new wave of interest in both the PPA Tour and the sport as a whole, it is crucial for the PPA to not only understand their fans, but also provide them with regular digital engagement to cement their new pickleball passion.
<a class="app-aware-link " href="https://ppapickem.pickleball.com/" target="_self" rel="noopener" data-test-app-aware-link="">PPA Pick ‘Em </a>serves that purpose perfectly, introducing gamification to the PPA’s overall fan engagement strategy.
Users must register for the free-to-play game, providing the PPA with valuable first-party data that delivers a more comprehensive understanding of the makeup of their fanbase, as well as how fans of pickleball interact with the sport and express their fandom.
Each week players lock in their picks – predictions based on the next event of the PPA Tour calendar. Winners are announced and awarded a prize on a weekly basis, and one grand prize winner is announced at the end of the season. Such incentives create and strengthen retention on owned and operated properties, giving fans a reason to return on a regular basis.
As a light-touch and easy-to-play entry point for fans, repeat engagement – and therefore fan loyalty – is built steadily as the PPA Tour calendar progresses. The dynamic social share feature also encourages fans to express that engagement outwardly, building competition and interest among other pickleball fanatics.
To learn how Genius Sports can help engage your league or team engage fans, <a class="app-aware-link " href="https://bit.ly/3woSEix" target="_self" rel="noopener" data-test-app-aware-link="">book a demo</a>.
Play PPA Pick ‘Em: <a class="app-aware-link " href="https://ppapickem.pickleball.com/" target="_self" rel="noopener" data-test-app-aware-link="">https://ppapickem.pickleball.com/</a>

Fan Engagement Insider: PPA Pick ‘Em game provides digital foundation for pickleball’s rapid rise

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