Phoenix solidifies itself as mecca for pickleball lovers

Some of the best pickleball players in the country met for a showcase in Scottsdale Tuesday night, further solidifying metro Phoenix as a mecca for pickleball lovers.

For the uninitiated: Pickleball is a combination of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.

• Its popularity was once reserved to retirement communities, but the sport has seen a 650% increase in players over the past seven years.
• There are two U.S. professional tours and two international governing bodies.
• Supposedly, even Larry Fitzgerald and Leonardo DiCaprio are playing.

What's happening: The first of five Tuesday Night Pickleball matches was held Tuesday night at The Orchard, a fancy new indoor pickleball court at the Scottsdale campus of Jigsaw Health.

• The matches are broadcast live on YouTube and VIP tickets are available starting at $100.
• Fans vote on the player matchups they want to see.

Why it matters: Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and there are significant revenue opportunities as the growth continues.

• Metro Phoenix already has many courts and indoor facilities thanks to the retiree community's early adoption of the sport.

What they're saying: "This is a passion project for us and our organization Tuesday Night Pickleball is a great way to introduce more people to the sport we love — both in person and online," Jigsaw Health owner Patrick Sullivan said.

What's next: The next matches are Oct. 4, Oct. 11, Nov. 22 and Dec. 13.

• Tickets are not yet available for the future games.

🗯 My thought bubble: I started my journalism career in 2015 covering the city of Surprise, home to many large retirement communities that are extremely passionate about pickleball.

• It's been fun to see the sport evolve into something all age groups enjoy.