The Sky's the Limit: Pickleball Reaches New Heights on the Goodyear Blimp

Pickleball has soared to unprecedented heights, quite literally, aboard the Goodyear Blimp. In a remarkable promotional stunt that's as thrilling as it is innovative, professional pickleball players Jay Devilliers and Catherine Parenteau played a match inside the gondola of the Goodyear Blimp, cruising at 1,500 feet over Southern California. This high-flying pickleball match not only pushed the boundaries of the sport but also marked a new chapter in the blimp's 70-year history of partnering with major sports events, now deeming pickleball "Blimpworthy."

The match inside the Goodyear Blimp's gondola, which measures about seven feet in width, featured exciting and quick-paced rallies between Devilliers and Parenteau. Despite challenges in maintaining balance above the Southern California terrain, the players delivered an extraordinary performance. With precautionary measures like tethering the ball to the net and using breakaway suction cups for the net, the event ensured safety while maintaining the thrill. The event also had a unique twist with the co-pilot briefly taking the paddle for a rally, adding a memorable moment to this high-altitude pickleball adventure.

This event symbolizes pickleball's meteoric rise in popularity. The sport has witnessed a significant increase in the number of players, with 8.9 million participants in 2022, marking it as America's fastest-growing sport for the third consecutive year. The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), which recently merged with Major League Pickleball, is attracting high-profile attention and competition. With young stars like Anna Leigh Waters leading the way and significant sponsorships fueling players' careers, pickleball is rapidly evolving from a recreational activity to a professional sport, now celebrated in the skies by the iconic Goodyear Blimp.