The Fastest-Growing Sport & Dallas’s Rise
Pickleball has exploded nationwide in recent years, participation has soared over 200% in the past three years, with nearly 50 million Americans having played the sport. Dallas-Fort Worth is riding this wave of enthusiasm. An estimated 5.2% of the DFW population (roughly 2.5 million people) picked up a paddle in the last year, and courts are popping up all over the Metroplex to meet the demand. What began as a backyard paddle game is now the fastest-growing recreational sport in North Texas, attracting players of all ages and backgrounds. And this summer, Dallas’s pickleball passion reaches a new peak as the city hosts the MPL Dallas Classic, a Major League Pickleball event set for July 24–27, 2025.
Event Details & Star Players
Major League Pickleball (MLP) is bringing its unique pro team competition to Dallas for four days of high-stakes action. The MPL Dallas Classic, held at the new Pickler Universe complex in Carrollton, runs Thursday through Sunday, July 24–27, and will showcase many of the world’s elite pickleball pros battling for crucial points ahead of the playoffs. This event marks the ninth stop of the 2025 MLP season, and the format promises dramatic rallies and thrilling doubles showdowns in front of an energized crowd. The hometown franchise, Mark Cuban’s Dallas Flash, leads the charge as the reigning 2024 MLP champions. They’ll be joined by rival teams owned by fellow celebrities and sports icons, Patrick Mahomes’ Miami Pickleball Club and Gary Vaynerchuk’s New Jersey 5s, among others. In total, nine Premier-level coed teams are slated to compete in Dallas, featuring star players such as JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson of the Dallas Flash, and Anna Leigh Waters of the New Jersey 5s, the top-ranked women’s pro. Fans can expect a festival atmosphere with packed stands and live DJ music as the country’s best showcase the fast-paced, addictive play that’s made pickleball a spectator sensation. (For those who can’t attend in person, coverage will stream live on Pickleball TV and may even air on major sports networks, putting Dallas’s courts on a national stage.)
Dallas Pickleball by the Numbers
Dallas has rapidly built a robust pickleball infrastructure to support its growing player base. The city now boasts 45 dedicated pickleball courts, with about 85% of them open to the public in parks and recreation centers. Massive new facilities are opening to meet demand, for example, the Oasis Pickleball Club near Dallas features 42 outdoor courts (plus 8 covered courts) and even hosts major tournaments like the Texas Open. In total, Dallas has become one of the most active pickleball hubs in the country: over 8,500 locals are registered in competitive leagues across the metro, and the city now hosts four major tournaments annually with roughly $85,000 in combined prize money.
This strong foundation has fueled surging participation. TeachMe.To, a platform for booking sports lessons, reports a 112% jump in pickleball lesson bookings in Dallas over the past year alone (via TeachMe.To.) The surge in demand is matched by a boom in coaching: the number of local pickleball instructors grew over 300% from 2023 to 2024, ensuring that enthusiasts of all skill levels can find a qualified coach. All told, since 2023 Dallas players have logged nearly 700 hours of pickleball lessons through TeachMe.To, a testament to how quickly the sport’s community is growing in both size and skill.
Economic & Community Impact
Hosting the MPL Dallas Classic is more than a sporting honor for North Texas, it’s also a boost to the local economy and community pride. Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the Dallas area for the tournament weekend, filling up hotels and packing local restaurants. Pickleball fans traveling for the event will inject tourism dollars into Carrollton, Dallas, and surrounding suburbs. Local businesses are eager to capitalize: the venue is set to feature food vendors, merchandise booths, and family-friendly activities, turning the tournament into a mini-festival that showcases Dallas flavors and hospitality (as seen at similar events in Austin).
Major pickleball events have proven lucrative elsewhere, for example, last year’s national championships attracted 10,000 spectators and generated an estimated $3.6 million in economic impact for its host city. Even mid-sized pro tournaments have brought over $1 million to their local economies. While the Dallas Classic may be a notch smaller than Nationals, it is still poised to deliver a significant economic windfall. Visit Dallas and local tourism officials anticipate a surge of spending on lodging, dining, and transportation as both pro teams and amateur entrants (plus their families) spend several days in town. “This will be a win-win for sports and our local economy,” one regional sports commission director said of a similar first-time pickleball tournament, and the same sentiment applies in Dallas.
Beyond the immediate dollars and cents, hosting a high-profile competition cements Dallas’s reputation as an emerging pickleball destination. The exposure can spark further growth: local clubs may see membership spikes, parks departments might invest in even more courts, and curious newcomers could be inspired to start playing. (The global pickleball market is already booming, expected to triple from $1.45 billion in 2023 to $4.4 billion by 2033, and Dallas is positioning itself to grab a share of that opportunity.) The social benefits are just as important: big events galvanize the community, bringing people together across ages and backgrounds to celebrate a shared love of sport. In a very real sense, the MPL Dallas Classic is as much about community building as it is about crowning a champion.
Personal Stories & Local Voices
For many Dallas residents, the pickleball boom isn’t about stats or dollars, it’s deeply personal. Take Rodrick and Rhonda Byers, both 52, from the DFW area. When their kids left home, the Byers decided to try something new together and signed up for pickleball lessons. “We decided to try pickleball lessons… and the rest is history,” Rodrick says. Now the couple plays two to three times a week at courts all over town, Grapevine, Colleyville, Euless, even the lively courts at Chicken N Pickle. Rodrick describes the game as instantly engaging: “It’s easy to learn…and addictive. You are basically hitting a wiffle ball over a net, not difficult. But learning where to be on the court is harder,” he laughs. The health benefits have been a bonus; in a recent 2½-hour pickleball session, he logged over 10,000 steps on his fitness tracker. The Byers have since introduced many of their friends (including church friends and coworkers) to the sport. “Not too many of them haven’t enjoyed it,” Rodrick notes, showing how pickleball’s enthusiasm spreads quickly through social circles.
Another newcomer, Margot Bradburry, 49, says she was “not athletically inclined” but was looking for a fun way to be more active. When her teenage kids started playing pickleball with their friends, Margot gave it a try and eventually joined a beginner’s class in Grapevine. Now she’s part of a group of moms who meet up to learn and play together. “I feel like it is an easy sport to understand but difficult to implement,” Margot says with a smile. The easy-to-learn, hard-to-master nature of pickleball keeps her challenged, but it’s the camaraderie that really hooked her, she’s made new friends and actually looks forward to exercising because it doubles as social time.
Local park and recreation leaders see similar stories unfolding across North Texas. Chris Smith, director of Grapevine Parks & Rec, has been overseeing pickleball programs for years and notes that interest has skyrocketed lately. “[It’s] growing fast and furious. We are seeing young kids play as well,” Smith says, pointing out that what began as a seniors’ pastime has now spread to all age groups. He credits the sport’s success to how easy it is to pick up and how inherently social it is, often a group of eight friends will show up to rotate in games, or families will play together on one court. The intergenerational appeal is on full display: Smith has seen moms beat their college-aged sons, grandparents team up with grandkids, and total strangers become friends after an hour of dinks and volleys. These personal connections and success stories illustrate how pickleball is enriching daily life in Dallas, improving health, forging friendships, and strengthening community bonds one game at a time.
Opportunities for Participation & Growth
The excitement around the MPL Dallas Classic is inspiring everyone to get in on the action, and there are plenty of opportunities for locals to participate and grow with the sport. For those new to pickleball, the event itself offers an inviting gateway. Spectators can attend the pro matches to see world-class play up close, learning by watching the best. Between matches, you might chat with fellow fans or even bump into a pro doing a meet-and-greet. The tournament venue at Pickler Universe is planning to have an interactive fan zone, where attendees can try a few swings on demonstration courts and get tips from volunteers. If you’re feeling inspired, you can jump into the game yourself through the many beginner-friendly avenues Dallas offers year-round.
One immediate option: join an amateur division of a local tournament. In fact, the Dallas Classic isn’t only for the pros, it includes a PPA-style amateur tournament running alongside the MLP team event. Dozens of everyday players from Texas and beyond have signed up to compete in singles and doubles brackets at Pickler Universe, right next to Championship Court. It’s a thrilling opportunity for amateurs to play in the same electrifying environment as the pros. (Not to mention, rumor has it winners in each division earn a coveted “dream ticket” to advance to Minor League Pickleball playoffs, adding a tangible goal for up-and-coming competitors.) Even if you didn’t register this time, watching the amateur matches can be just as fun as the pro games, and it might spark your desire to enter next year.
Beyond tournament play, Dallas’s pickleball scene offers something for everyone. Local parks host open-play meetups virtually every day, just show up with a paddle, and you’ll be invited into a game. Recreation centers like Cole Park or Churchill Recreation Center have scheduled drop-in times where newcomers are welcomed by regulars. If you prefer a more structured learning experience, you can book a private lesson or join a clinic with one of the area’s many certified instructors. TeachMe.To makes it easy to find a pickleball coach nearby and book a lesson online in minutes. With over 20 local instructors available and flexible scheduling, it’s the quickest way to get up to speed on rules and fundamentals. Group clinics are also popular, for instance, clubs such as At Fault Pickleball or The Grove offer beginner clinics and socials where you can learn the basics and meet other newbies in a low-pressure setting. No matter your age or skill level, Dallas’s pickleball community is eager to help you improve and have a blast along the way.
Get in the Game
The MPL Dallas Classic is not just a one-weekend spectacle, it’s an open invitation to the entire Dallas community. If you’re a sports fan or just curious what the pickleball buzz is about, don’t miss this event. Grab a ticket (prices range from affordable general admission to VIP courtside experiences) and head to Pickler Universe July 24–27 to cheer on Team Dallas Flash and the rest of the MLP contenders. Bring the family, sample some local food truck fare on site, and soak in the high-energy atmosphere. You’ll witness firsthand why pickleball has become such a phenomenon, the lightning-quick reflex exchanges, the deft “dinks” just over the net, the eruptions of applause after epic rallies. It’s sports entertainment at its finest, with a uniquely friendly and engaging vibe. And who knows, after watching the pros, you might be inspired to pick up a paddle yourself.
For readers ready to start their own pickleball journey, there’s no better time than now. Courts across Dallas are waiting, and friendly players are eager to welcome newcomers for a game. Visit TeachMe.To or your local rec center to book a pickleball lesson and learn the ropes from a pro instructor, you’ll be confidently serving and scoring in no time. Or simply head to a nearby park during open play hours; you’ll find that the pickleball community is one of the most inviting around, always happy to loan a paddle and show a first-timer the basics. By attending the Dallas Classic or getting involved locally, you’re not just watching a sport, you’re becoming part of a movement.
A New Pickleball Capital in the Making
As the final point is scored and the championship trophy is hoisted at the MPL Dallas Classic, one thing will be clear: Dallas has arrived on the national pickleball stage. Hosting this event solidifies the city’s status as a premier pickleball destination, a place where big-time competition and homegrown community spirit intersect. The legacy of the Dallas Classic will continue long after the pros leave town. It will live on in the beginner who decides to sign up for her first lesson next week, in the local club that gains a few new members, and in the countless conversations where people say, “Did you see that pickleball tournament? We should go play sometime!” Dallas is embracing pickleball not just as a fleeting trend but as a cultural asset, a sport that brings people together, boosts health and happiness, and now, hosts marquee events that put the city in the spotlight.
So let’s celebrate this moment. Whether you’re a seasoned player, a curious spectator, or a local journalist covering the next big thing in town, the message is the same: Game on, Dallas! The MPL Dallas Classic is your chance to witness history and maybe even make some of your own on the pickleball court. Grab a paddle, join the fun, and be a part of the fastest-growing sports community in America. Dallas’s pickleball story is just getting started, and you can help write the next chapter.
