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The pickleball craze may be cooling off nationwide, but it's still heating up in Northeast Ohio.

Why it matters: The rise of pickleball as one of America's fastest-growing sports over the past several years has spread in the region with an increase in courts and events.

The big picture: The number of pickleball courts across the 100 most populous U.S. cities increased just 4% from 2025 to 2026.

That's compared to 13% growth in 2025 and 14% in 2024, according to data from the Trust for Public Land.

Yes, but: The nationwide total is still up 900% from 2017, and cities are still adding courts.

The number of pickleball courts in Cleveland nearly doubled from seven in 2025 to 13 in 2026 (figures include courts striped for both tennis and pickleball).

Reality check: TPL's data looks at the number of pickleball courts in cities.

Residents of Cleveland's suburbs know pickleball has become far more prevalent than tennis at many parks and recreation centers.

In fact, Cleveland Pickleball, the area's go-to hub for pickleball news and events, lists more than 300 indoor and outdoor pickleball facilities in Northeast Ohio.

The list includes Cleveland Pickleball Center, the area's first permanent indoor pickleball facility, which opened last year with 10 courts.

What they're saying: "Pickleball growth in our region is very typical of how it has grown throughout other parts of the U.S.," Cleveland Pickleball owner Esther Daniels tells Axios.

"It started with small, local community conversions of tennis courts to pickleball courts and, by 2023, the region was adding courts faster due to heavy demand."

What's next: The local pickleball season culminates in November with Pickle in the Land, an indoor tournament put on by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission that's in its fourth year.

Pickleball growth slows nationally, but surges in Northeast Ohio

The number of pickleball courts in Cleveland has nearly doubled from 2025 to 2026.

Illustration of two hands shaking, both wearing sweatbands 

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pickleball craze" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/04/walmart-free-pickleball-game-subway-sub" data-vars-content-id="2c83ebe3-68d8-4c56-a986-0f75abcbc70e" data-vars-headline="Pickleball growth slows nationally, but surges in Northeast Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/04/walmart-free-pickleball-game-subway-sub" target="_self">pickleball craze</a> may be cooling off nationwide, but it&#x27;s still heating up in Northeast Ohio.Why it matters: The rise of pickleball as one of America&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fastest-growing sports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jefffromm/2026/02/12/how-pickleball-became-americas-fastest-growing-sport-even-among-gen-z/" data-vars-content-id="2c83ebe3-68d8-4c56-a986-0f75abcbc70e" data-vars-headline="Pickleball growth slows nationally, but surges in Northeast Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jefffromm/2026/02/12/how-pickleball-became-americas-fastest-growing-sport-even-among-gen-z/" target="_blank">fastest-growing sports</a> over the past several years has spread in the region with an increase in courts and events.

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The Browns shocked the NFL world Monday by trading the team's best player.

Driving the news: Cleveland is sending Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for defensive end Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick.

By the numbers: Garrett is the Browns' all-time sack leader, a five-time first-team All-Pro selection and a seven-time Pro Bowler.

He broke the league's single-season sack record last season en route to his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

Flashback: Garrett previously asked for a trade last offseason but signed a four-year contract extension with Cleveland in March 2025.

The 30-year-old appeared to be untradable until Browns general manager Andrew Berry confirmed the team was negotiating a trade early Monday afternoon.

What they're saying: "We, and more importantly, our fans, have grown up with Myles, and he's an enormous source of pride for our team," Berry said in a statement after the trade was announced.

"However, as we embark on a new era of Browns football with a young core and a replenished asset base, we felt this move was important to our transition."

💭 Troy's thought bubble: The Browns are in rebuild mode and trading Garrett for Verse — the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year — and draft picks was the right move.

The Browns have the draft capital to move up in the 2027 NFL Draft, if needed, and select a highly touted quarterback like Texas' Arch Manning or Oregon's Dante Moore.

The other side: Even if you're OK with trading Garrett, you may question the compensation.

Last year, the Dallas Cowboys traded pass rusher Micah Parsons for a Pro Bowl player (Kenny Clark) and two first-round picks.

In March, the Baltimore Ravens agreed to send two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for pass-rusher Maxx Crosby in a trade that was later nixed over medical concerns.

Yes, but: Both Parsons (27) and Crosby (28) are younger than Garrett (30), while Verse was a first-round pick just two years ago.

The bottom line: The success of this trade will depend on Verse's performance and Cleveland's ability to turn its draft picks into a franchise-altering quarterback.

Why trading Myles Garrett was the right move for the Browns

Myles Garrett is headed to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Verse and multiple draft picks.

A Black football player in a white jersey with the number 95 and a captain patch, wearing a black-and-white patterned headband, gazes upward with a determined expression on the field, blurred stadium crowd in background.

Myles Garrett will go down as one of the greatest Browns players in history. Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The Browns shocked the NFL world Monday by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="trading" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-network-browns-trading-myles-garrett-to-rams-jared-verse" data-vars-content-id="4075b29f-4edd-4387-9d23-94251d101d82" data-vars-headline="Why trading Myles Garrett was the right move for the Browns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-network-browns-trading-myles-garrett-to-rams-jared-verse" target="_blank">trading</a> the team&#x27;s best player.Driving the news: Cleveland is sending Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for defensive end Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick.

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Average monthly car payments in Ohio are now $716 for new cars and $504 for used cars, according to new data from car research site Edmunds.

Why it matters: Cleveland hopes to increase active transportation like biking and walking over the next few years, but the overwhelming majority of Northeast Ohio residents still rely on cars.

Add in rising gas prices and the cost of car ownership is putting a huge dent in budgets.

The big picture: Vehicle sticker prices have been climbing for years with many popular models now thousands of dollars more than they were a few years ago, Axios' Joann Muller reports.

The average cost of a new vehicle nationwide hit a record high of $43,899 in the first quarter of the year, up by more than $2,000 since the same time last year, per Edmunds.

As a result, car buyers are stretching their loan terms longer, to an average of nearly six years.

Stunning stat: Even with those longer terms, 20% of new car buyers now pay $1,000 a month or more, per Edmunds.

The situation isn't much better for used cars.

Inventory on used car lots fell to 40 days' supply in March, its lowest point this year, and though it rebounded slightly in April, it remains tight.

That's pushing those prices up. The average price for a used vehicle in Q1 was $29,314, per Edmunds.

If you add up gas prices, insurance, repairs and the sticker prices of cars, the cost of owning one is up 47% since 2020, according to Navy Federal Credit Union.

That's risen faster than both inflation and wages.

Threat level: Rising car costs are causing more Americans to fall behind on their car payments or stay out of the market.

The average age of vehicles on the road hit a record high of 13 years last year.

Yes, but: There's a silver lining for used-car owners. They're retaining more of their value for longer, according to CarFax.com.

So, if you can swing the payment for a new car, you'll likely be able to sell your old beater for more than you would have a few years ago.

Car ownership is taking a bigger bite out of budgets

Vehicle sticker prices have been climbing for years, including in Ohio.

Illustration of blue car on top of a tall stack of cash.

Average monthly car payments in Ohio are now $716 for new cars and $504 for used cars, according to new data from car research site Edmunds.Why it matters: Cleveland hopes to increase active transportation like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="biking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/04/10/cleveland-transportation-plan-50-miles-bike-lanes" data-vars-content-id="9a243526-41f5-4027-8629-04520f610056" data-vars-headline="Car ownership is taking a bigger bite out of budgets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/04/10/cleveland-transportation-plan-50-miles-bike-lanes" target="_self">biking</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="walking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2023/07/20/cleveland-mandatory-parking-transit-corridors" data-vars-content-id="9a243526-41f5-4027-8629-04520f610056" data-vars-headline="Car ownership is taking a bigger bite out of budgets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2023/07/20/cleveland-mandatory-parking-transit-corridors" target="_self">walking</a> over the next few years, but the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="overwhelming majority" data-vars-click-url="https://learn.streetlightdata.com/hubfs/eBooks%20and%20Research/Transportation%20Mode%20Share%20Report/Transportation%20Mode%20Share%20Report.pdf?hsLang=en" data-vars-content-id="9a243526-41f5-4027-8629-04520f610056" data-vars-headline="Car ownership is taking a bigger bite out of budgets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://learn.streetlightdata.com/hubfs/eBooks%20and%20Research/Transportation%20Mode%20Share%20Report/Transportation%20Mode%20Share%20Report.pdf?hsLang=en" target="_blank">overwhelming majority</a> of Northeast Ohio residents still rely on cars.

Money

"Since the very beginning, it's always been about winning."

 Myles Garrett during his introduction with the Los Angeles Rams.

Myles Garrett made his debut with the Rams on Tuesday, confirming the blockbuster trade that brought him there was all about winning.

What they're saying: "To be a winner now, to have an opportunity to do that immediately, that was ultimately too difficult to pass up," Garrett said during an introductory press conference.

"The opportunity to come here, to have an immediate and profound impact on this team, it was just something I had to move forward with."

Between the lines: Garrett said he found out about the trade a week ago and waived his contract's no-trade clause.

By the numbers: The two-time Defensive Player of the Year made the playoffs twice in nine seasons with the Browns.

The Rams made it to the NFC Championship game last season and are the odds-on favorite to win Super Bowl LXI.

Myles Garrett says trade to Rams was "about winning"

Garrett said he found out about the trade a week ago and waived his contract's no-trade clause.

Three men pose in front of a RAMS backdrop. Center man holds a blue and yellow jersey reading GARRETT with the number 95; left and right men wear blue tops and smile.

Myles Garrett (middle) with Rams general manager Les Snead (left) and head coach Sean McVay (right) during a press conference on June 2. Photo: Kevin Terrell/Getty Images

<blockquote>&quot;Since the very beginning, it&#x27;s always been about winning.&quot;</blockquote><cite>— Myles Garrett during his introduction with the Los Angeles Rams.</cite>Myles Garrett made his debut with the Rams on Tuesday, confirming the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="blockbuster trade" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/06/01/myles-garrett-trade-browns-los-angeles-rams" data-vars-content-id="db155082-7d2c-42e6-b451-1bc96403b2be" data-vars-headline="Myles Garrett says trade to Rams was &quot;about winning&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/06/01/myles-garrett-trade-browns-los-angeles-rams" target="_self">blockbuster trade</a> that brought him there was all about winning.What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;To be a winner now, to have an opportunity to do that immediately, that was ultimately too difficult to pass up,&quot; Garrett said during an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="introductory press conference" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh5GX9m1DR0" data-vars-content-id="db155082-7d2c-42e6-b451-1bc96403b2be" data-vars-headline="Myles Garrett says trade to Rams was &quot;about winning&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh5GX9m1DR0" target="_blank">introductory press conference</a>.

Michael Jackson's legacy has been front and center in 2026 — first with a blockbuster film, then new allegations of child sex abuse and a documentary about his 2005 criminal trial.

Why it matters: Netflix's "Michael Jackson: The Verdict" examines his complex legacy, including negative elements often glossed over by films like "Michael," the new biopic in theaters now, and institutions that honor iconic figures.

The big question: Should institutions that celebrate people for their outstanding accomplishments in a specific field consider their lives outside of that craft?

Flashback: It's a question the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame faced in 2019 after the release of "Leaving Neverland," a documentary focused on child sexual abuse allegations against Jackson, a two-time inductee.

Following public cries for accountability, the Rock Hall said it would not revoke Jackson's induction nor remove memorabilia from the museum.

Caveat: Jackson, who died in 2009, was never convicted of a crime. Nor is he the only Rock Hall inductee to ever be accused of a heinous act.

The museum has never revoked an induction in its 40-year history.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame faced a similar question following O.J. Simpson's death in 2024.

What they said: "O.J. Simpson was the first player to reach a rushing mark many thought could not be attained in a 14-game season when he topped 2,000 yards," Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said in a statement at the time.

"His on-field contributions will be preserved in the Hall's archives in Canton, Ohio."

The Pro Football Hall of Fame and Rock Hall did not respond to Axios' requests for comment on this story.

The big picture: You'd be hard-pressed to find a major hall of fame that has a process or precedent in place to remove an inductee.

For instance, former Cleveland Indians star Roberto Alomar was placed on Major League Baseball's permanently ineligible list in 2021 following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Yes, but: Alomar's plaque remains on display in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, which operates independently from MLB.

The bottom line: Halls of fame are built to preserve achievement, not adjudicate morality.

However, as public expectations shift, institutions face growing pressure to explain why celebration and accountability so often remain separate.

Why halls of fame don't kick out controversial icons

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has never revoked an induction in its 40-year history.

A crowd of formally dressed people walking outdoors; at center, Michael Jackson in a black suit, plaid vest and tie wears sunglasses as someone holds a large black umbrella above her.

Should institutions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame consider the questionable pasts of inductees like Michael Jackson? Photo: Carlo Allegri/Getty Images

Michael Jackson&#x27;s legacy has been front and center in 2026 — first with a blockbuster film, then <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new allegations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/michael-jackson-accused-child-sex-trafficking-new-lawsuit-rcna261730" data-vars-content-id="e7af4bad-d88a-4b55-9fef-15408883c108" data-vars-headline="Why halls of fame don&#x27;t kick out controversial icons" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/michael-jackson-accused-child-sex-trafficking-new-lawsuit-rcna261730" target="_blank">new allegations</a> of child sex abuse and a documentary about his 2005 criminal trial.Why it matters: Netflix&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Michael Jackson: The Verdict&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.netflix.com/title/81929201" data-vars-content-id="e7af4bad-d88a-4b55-9fef-15408883c108" data-vars-headline="Why halls of fame don&#x27;t kick out controversial icons" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81929201" target="_blank">&quot;Michael Jackson: The Verdict&quot;</a> examines his complex legacy, including negative elements often glossed over by films like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Michael,&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/04/21/michael-jackson-movie-review" data-vars-content-id="e7af4bad-d88a-4b55-9fef-15408883c108" data-vars-headline="Why halls of fame don&#x27;t kick out controversial icons" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/04/21/michael-jackson-movie-review" target="_self">&quot;Michael,&quot;</a> the new biopic in theaters now, and institutions that honor iconic figures.

Troy Smith

Featured stories

Why halls of fame don't kick out controversial icons

Myles Garrett says trade to Rams was "about winning"

Pickleball growth slows nationally, but surges in Northeast Ohio

Why trading Myles Garrett was the right move for the Browns

Car ownership is taking a bigger bite out of budgets