Pickleball's Popularity Sparks Business Opportunities and Mall Replacements.

Pickleball, America's fastest-growing sport, is replacing vacant spaces left by shuttered stores like Bed Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, and Saks Off 5th in malls across the US. Malls are turning to a wider range of tenants and activities to draw traffic, including skydiving, virtual golf, and breweries. Pickleball offers benefits to both mall owners and players, as consumers are craving fun, social experiences after years of limited gatherings during the pandemic. The sport has grown by 159% over three years to 8.9 million players in 2022, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.