From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — The sport of pickleball continues to grow in popularity across the country.
In a recent study, Coventry — a life insurance company — put together a national list of the best cities for pickleball, and Birmingham checks in at No. 10.
The rankings were constructed based on numerous factors, including the number of pickleball courts, the number of indoor courts and the number of pickleball clubs throughout the city.
The top 10 cities for pickleball are listed below.
- Riverside, Calif.
- Phoenix, Ariz.
- Las Vegan, Nev.
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- St. Louis, Mo.
- Richmond, Va.
- Sacramento, Calif.
- Minneapolis, Minn.
- Portland, Ore.
- Birmingham, Ala.
The ping-pong-tennis hybrid has increased by 650 percent in participation numbers over the last six year, according to the USA Pickleball Association. Local participation has also climbed in recent years as courts have been established in Trussville (102 North Mall St.) and Clay (6745 Old Springville Rd.).
In fact, Clay recently played host to the 2021 Alabama Pickleball Open. For complete pickleball rankings and more information on the fast-growing sport, visit https://www.coventrydirect.com/blog/best-pickleball-locations/
