the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , despite the Villages war on Pickleball , the booming social sports industry is transforming city life across the U.S. From Softball, Pickleball , Tennis , Kickball to connections.
A Kickball Obsession Turned Full-Time Passion
It started innocently — a post-work kickball game. Three years later, Joe Dzienius plays four nights a week across four leagues, has racked up a 65% win rate, and has even competed nationally. The Hicksville, NY local plans to cross 500 games this year, turning what began as a hobby into a lifestyle.
“Kickball is my reset button,” Dzienius says. “It keeps me grounded, social, and active.”
He’s not alone. All across New York, Chicago, and cities nationwide, adult social sports leagues are not only thriving — they’re reshaping how adults connect, decompress, and build community. Ridgewood even has a Women’s Summer Softball League and the League has been around for over 25 years.
The Rise of a Billion-Dollar Industry
Once run by local municipalities, adult rec leagues privatized in the late 1990s and early 2000s, thanks to online registration platforms and a growing interest in combining sports with social life.
Entrepreneurs saw opportunity, launching leagues that offered more than just sports — they offered community, dating, friendships, and even career networking.
One standout example: Heyday Athletic in Philadelphia. Under CEO Tim Horan, the league grew from 5,000 to over 60,000 players, bringing in $4.5M annually through a mix of participation fees and brand sponsorships with names like Coors Light.
The business model? Simple:
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$60–$200 per player, per season
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Massive group sponsorships
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Community-focused events and merch
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Minimal overhead via school and city field rentals
The Sport & Social Industry Association (SSIA) now includes 80+ member leagues, and dozens bring in six- to seven-figure revenues.
Chicago: A Case Study in Organized Fun
In Chicago, the market for adult rec leagues is worth $10 million, controlled largely by Chicago Sport & Social Club and Players Sport & Social Group. They offer nearly two dozen sports, including pickleball, euchre, and even beach volleyball on Montrose Beach.
Pickleball is the fastest-growing, with 25% year-over-year growth, while flag football has declined due to concussion concerns.
But it’s the social element, not the sport, that keeps leagues full:
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Sponsor bars with drink deals
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Post-game meetups
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Built-in ways to make new friends or even find love
As Chris Hastings of Chicago Sport & Social puts it:
“The sport matters — but the connections matter more.”
Enter Volo Sports: The Industry Disruptor
The biggest name on the block now is Volo Sports, founded by Giovanni Marcantoni. Originally created to help people meet and socialize without pressure, Volo now operates in 9+ major markets and serves over 500,000 participants annually.
How Volo scaled so fast:
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Bought out local leagues in new cities
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Offered easy signups for “free agents”
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Focused on inclusive, welcoming gameplay
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Attracted a $21M private equity investment
They’re even launching physical hubs like Club Volo — hybrid social/sports venues complete with events, bars, and even comedy nights.
Why Adult Sports Work So Well in Cities
For many millennials and Gen Z adults, adult rec leagues are the new third place — a casual, structured way to:
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Make friends in a new city
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Stay active without pressure
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Find romance in a low-stakes environment
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Escape work stress and build real-life community
“These leagues are really event companies disguised as sports leagues,” says Galen Beers, founder of the SSIA.
And for many owners like Marcantoni, the mission is deeply personal:
He met his wife in a Bocce league.
Final Whistle
Adult social sports leagues are no longer just a novelty. They’re part of the urban ecosystem, a billion-dollar industry that merges play, wellness, and relationships into a winning formula.
Whether you’re in New York, Ridgewood, Chicago, or Austin, chances are your city has already been taken over by adult rec sports. And if you haven’t joined yet — your future friends, teammates, or even your soulmate might already be warming up.
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Will Ridgewood start a pickleball team at the high school ?
They like as not for profit so they don’t have yo pay for field usage and allow taxpayers to continue to foot the bill. Even when they are made up of put of town members. That does not seem fair.