Developers turn underutilised spaces into lifestyle amenities
Real estate projects are increasingly adding pickleball courts, not just in traditional areas but on rooftops, podiums, vacant plots and even basements, to appeal to young, active buyers and set themselves apart in a competitive market.
Key Points
- Pickleball is no longer a niche sport; it’s becoming a selling feature in luxury and upscale housing projects across Indian cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru.
- Developers are repurposing rooftops, podiums and even basements into courts, signalling a shift toward active, community‑centric living.
- The sport’s compact size and lower cost compared with tennis or squash make it practical for residential developments.
- Some builders are integrating courts from the design stage instead of adding them later, reflecting buyer expectations for sporting infrastructure.
- While courts alone don’t guarantee faster sales, experts say they help position projects more attractively in competitive markets.
From Washington to the World
Invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, pickleball was officially declared the state sport of Washington in 2022. Today, it has spread to over 80 countries and is gaining momentum in India, particularly in metropolitan areas like Mumbai and Bengaluru, Gundeep Singh, founder of proptech company Simplease, wrote on LinkedIn.
A New Amenity for Developers
“Developers are now positioning pickleball courts as a key differentiator rather than just another amenity. The bigger takeaway is that amenity relevance now has a shelf life, pushing builders to design flexible spaces that can evolve every 5-10 yrs, since what works today may not matter a decade from now,” Singh wrote.
While pickleball hasn’t yet replaced traditional sports like tennis or squash, real estate experts say its smaller footprint and lower cost make it a practical addition to many gated communities. “Some courts (notably outside India) are even converting tennis spaces to pickleball due to usage patterns; this efficiency appeal is influencing developers here too,” said Ritesh Mehta, Senior Director, Residential Advisory Services, India, at JLL.
Connecting Business and Lifestyle
Recently, Niranjan Hiranandani of Hiranandani Group highlighted that Regalia Business Parks’ involvement with the CXO PickleBall League shows how the sport is emerging as a platform to connect business leaders beyond the boardroom. The company is currently building a pickleball court at the Eastbridge project in Regalia Business Park, Vikhroli.
From Marketing Gimmick to Lifestyle Staple
“Our association with the CXO PickleBall League, powered by Regalia Business Parks and Grav8 Sports, with Saina Nehwal as Brand Ambassador, reflects this vision of blending business, sport and wellness to build meaningful professional connections,” Hiranandani said.
Anil RG, Managing Director of Concorde, shared that the company introduced pickleball courts at Concorde Abode 99 nearly four years ago, well before the recent surge in popularity. “Like gyms and yoga decks once did, pickleball is moving toward becoming an integral part of active, community-focused living,” he observed.
Similarly, Sarthak Seth, CSMO at Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd., described pickleball as part of a larger ecosystem promoting active lifestyles. New projects are now integrating courts from the design stage rather than adding them later, citing Varnam Phase 1 in North Bengaluru as a key example.
