The retirement sport stereotype is dead. Players ages 13 to 24 now post the highest participation rates of any age segment, according to SFIA data. The average player age fell from 41 in 2020 to about 34.8. Women are 42.9 percent of players, up from 38.6 percent in 2020.
Think about what that means for the business of the sport. A 19 year old and a 65 year old want different things from a facility, a format, and a paddle. The industry spent years building for the second customer. The first one just became the majority.
Why it matters: demographics are destiny for product. Expect louder music, later hours, more competitive formats, and marketing that stops winking at early bird specials. The brands and venues that read this shift early win the next decade.