(Photos from the National Pickleball Expositions)
by Ray Smith, Exhibit City News
Las Vegas hosted the inaugural World Pickleball Convention in June, building upon the city’s reputation as a burgeoning sports destination and bringing another tradeshow with potential growth to the No. 1-ranked Las Vegas Convention Center.
A hybrid of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, pickleball evolved from a backyard barbecue game invented in 1965 to the fastest-growing sport in the nation. Some 13.6 million Americans played the game in 2023, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
Catering primarily to older folks, with scaled-down court dimensions and plastic paddles and balls, pickleball has exploded into competitive leagues for all ages and skill levels, in cities large and small.
World Pickleball Convention founder and CEO George Domaceti estimated 2,850 people in attendance, including tournament players, and says the convention will return in 2025. He lives in West Palm Beach, Fla., where the game flourishes among senior retirees.
“Vegas is known for conventions,” Domaceti says in an interview with ECN. “People come from all over the United States, and they’re used to coming to Las Vegas for conventions, and Las Vegas Convention Center is probably the granddaddy of them all.”
Held June 6-9 at LVCC, the pickleball convention showcased equipment and products from 160 exhibitors, targeting players, coaches, league organizers, retailers and pro shops. They looked at paddles, balls, nets, gloves, fashionable court apparel and shoe styles. The first two days were dedicated to the tradeshow and conference, and an open-play tournament was scheduled for all four days.
Educational sessions provided insight on emerging trends, customer preferences and market dynamics. Keynote speakers delved into the history of the game, the state of the pickleball industry, and how to monetize pickleball as a business.
Las Vegas resident Andre Agassi, a former tennis professional and winner of eight major tournaments, promoted the launch of the Komodo signature paddle. Kaitlyn Kerr, owner and general manager of the Las Vegas Nite Owls of the Major League Pickleball tour, moderated panel discussions on player ratings, unifying the game, expanding to the collegiate and Olympic level, and hooking the next generation.
Salome Devidze, the world’s No. 1 women’s pickleball player, conducted clinics for children and adults. Admission to the conference and exhibit floor, as well as the tournament, was open to the public.
Carolyn Goodman, Las Vegas mayor and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board member, said she’s a “big believer” in pickleball and was excited to see the convention come to Las Vegas.
“Certainly, in leadership, the city of Las Vegas, down at one of our great hotels, the Plaza, we built courts starting in 2015, so we’ve been ahead of the curve the whole time,” Goodman said.
The convention, produced by National Pickleball Expositions, provided investment strategies for companies looking to enhance their market presence, connect with their target audience, and capitalize on the tremendous growth potential within the pickleball community.
“The fact that competing companies came together in unity to help grow the sport, that’s what I saw,” Domaceti remarked.
