'More money for everyone': Pickleball supporters say the sport will mean big money for Macon
As pickleball surges in popularity, Mayor Lester Miller is betting on the sport. Here's how the mayor is trying to make Macon the 'mecca of pickleball.'
'Gives back to our community' Getting behind pickleball
Macon is no stranger to pickleball. In fact, its facilities already draw hundreds of local hobbyists to play while also luring many top pickleball players to compete in Bibb County, too.
All of this local activity for a sport that only a few years ago many people had likely never even heard of before.
"Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the world," Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller said.
As the sport continues to grow, Miller has been a big booster of the sport of pickleball in Bibb County.
According to the Association of Pickleball Players, there's been a 35% increase in American adults playing pickleball from August 2022 through March 2023. Since the spring of this year, more than 48 million Americans have picked up a paddle.
With its potential economic impact and the sport's continued growth, Miller thinks that getting behind pickleball will be good for the Macon community.
While Miller says he is still working on his game, he says pickleball will bring people to Macon to play at the county's facilities and, perhaps, stay and experience all that Macon has to offer.
"Lot of these people are going to be staying overnight so it provides valuable income for our hotel/motel tax," Miller said.
Chris Floore is the chief communications officer for Bibb County.
He said millions of dollars are likely to flow into Macon-Bibb once the county's new indoor pickleball courts open at the Macon Mall.
“The projects from Visit Macon show that just from the first four tournaments being negotiated with from November to January," Floore said. "Expect an impact of more than $1.75 million."
With the combination of hosting tournaments and the growing local community of pickleball players, Floore put the indoor facility impact in millions.
"The courts could have an impact of $15-17 million," Floore said.
'Mecca of pickleball' Macon's pickleball future
Miller says that this tax income will help make pickleball a boon for Bibb County as a whole, not just the county's growing pickleball community.
"Additional funds coming in which creates more economic impact for our community as a whole, but also just brings in more money for everyone," Miller said.
Miller also sees pickleball bringing new jobs to the county.
"Bringing new businesses in and creating foot traffic allows us to have more entrepreneurs that start businesses that basically gives back to our community and provides jobs and opportunity for everyone," Miller said.
Greg Stokes saw an opportunity after years of playing the sport. Now, he's in the pickleball business on Forsyth Road with his one-stop shop for all things pickleball, Pickleball Sports. There, he's serving players in the budding pickleball community.
"The biggest issue I heard from them was 'I can't try on my shoes. I have to order and send them back or hope I like them. Can't try out a paddle. Have to order and hope I like it' and so I saw a need," Stokes explained.
At his shop, Stokes helps prospective pickleball players figure out what they need to get into the sport.
Stokes said the new indoor facility at the Macon Mall will help bring life back to that area.
"The amphitheater beside it so you've got a dual draw there," Stokes explained. "Come down play pickleball, watch a concert, play some more pickleball, stay in the hotels. Your restaurants around that area will open back up cause there will be people there to go to them now."
Miller says the courts at the Macon Mall are set to open this year. When that happens, Stokes sees a hand battle building between the new indoor courts and the outdoor facilities.
What will the Macon Mall pickleball courts look like?
Because of those outdoor facilities, Macon has already drawn state and regional interest in hosting tournaments including the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GPRA) State Championship in September for the third time in a row.
The Georgia Pickleball Association (GPA) State Championship will be hosted in Macon in November.
Miller believes Macon's pickleball game will keep advancing to the next round.
"It's here to stay. It's going to be here for a long time. We're getting ahead of the curve. We're going to be the mecca of pickleball here in Macon, Georgia," Miller said.