---
title: "Life Time Leading with Pickleball Courts"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/6a99baa5-f16e-415b-9809-d3f50bc53a36
source: "Athletech News"
original_url: https://athletechnews.com/life-time-pickleball/
author: "Elizabeth Ostertag"
category: "Gym & HVLP"
industry: "Fitness"
segment: "Gym & HVLP"
published: 2022-11-02T22:27:53.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T18:20:24.674Z
image: https://athletechnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Life-Time-pickleball-new-courts-news.jpg
---

# Life Time Leading with Pickleball Courts

**TL;DR:** Life Time Fitness plans to expand its existing 350 pickleball courts in the US by opening 600 more by the end of 2023. The company has seen significant growth in pickleball participation, with total monthly participation growing from 16,000 to over 70,000 in the past nine months.

*By Elizabeth Ostertag, originally published in Athletech News on 2022-11-02. [Read the original](https://athletechnews.com/life-time-pickleball/).*

## Story

Life Time Fitness has set its sights on expanding its existing 350 pickleball courts in the United States, with plans to open 600 more by the end of 2023. As one of the largest operators of tennis courts, with nearly 300 indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and dozens of squash courts, Life Time is no stranger to net sports.

Why the growth in pickleball? Some hypothesize that because pickleball is slower-paced and there’s less ground to cover, it’s more accessible for some athletes. It’s also more efficient for operators, who can fit four pickleball courts onto one tennis court, and most picklers play doubles. Some research also suggests that it might be safer for athletes with heart issues, as well.

Life Time offers pickleball lessons, leagues, and tournaments to meet the sport’s growing popularity. Since August 2021, Life Time has built indoor and outdoor courts at a rate of five new permanent courts each week from coast to coast. Some even have stadium seating, social lounges, and more. Pickleball court competitors can’t hold a candle to Life Time—no other brand comes close to operating as many courts.

“Within our healthy way of life ecosystem, we consider pickleball another amazing growth opportunity,” Akradi said to Club Industry. “We’ve seen total monthly participation at our clubs grow from approximately 16,000 to more than 70,000 in just the past nine months. Someday soon I believe that pickleball will be the sport that gets the largest number of people moving for fun, connection, competition, and the simple love of the game.”

## Entities

- Fitness (sector)
- Athletech News (publication)
- fitness industry (topic)
- Life Time (company)
- Elizabeth Ostertag (person)
- Club Industry (publication)
- pickleball expansion (topic)
- court expansion (topic)
- sports growth (topic)

---
Originally reported by Elizabeth Ostertag, Athletech News (https://athletechnews.com/life-time-pickleball/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/6a99baa5-f16e-415b-9809-d3f50bc53a36).