Rob Gronkowski and his days of dominating the NFL with Tom Brady are over. But this has not deterred him from continuing to follow his love for sports. The 34-year-old is still a big fan of staying in shape. And we have seen him showing off his muscular build for his brother Chris Gronkowski’s brand called ‘Ice Shakers.’ After his retirement, we have seen Rob Gronkowski engaging in another sport that has taken the country by storm. And it is none other than pickleball!

Many big athletes have come forward to show their interest in this sport, leading to his gradual growth in its fanbase. We even saw the retired TE having a blast in a game of pickleball, with Brady’s old teammate Scottie Miller and his girlfriend Camille Kostek. And now, The Gronk is taking that interest to the next level. Just like Brady and NBA star LeBron James, the 34-year-old retired TE is putting his $45 million net worth to good use, making a big investment in this ever-growing game.

Rob Gronkowski invests in the growing sport

Just like his former teammate, Rob Gronkowski is continuing on his entrepreneurial journey and building an impressive portfolio. And the most recent addition to his list of ventures is Pickleball. The relatively new sport has seen a drastic increase in its player base in the last three years. Back in 2020, it had 4.8 million players. And today, it boasts a player base of 48.3 million, an astounding 998% increase.

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And Rob Gronkowski is looking to capitalize on this growth. According to reports, the retired NFL star is making an investment in the pickleball company called Crush Yard. The surge in the popularity of this sport has motivated property owners to establish pickleball courts in areas such as malls, offices, and apartment complexes. And Crush Yard is on a mission to be the face of this expansion, as it is looking forward to opening 4 new locations by the end of next year. Not only this, but they are trying to provide a comprehensive pickleball experience with facilities such as a court, dining facilities, and lounge areas. 

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And Rob Gronkowski is not the first athlete looking to capitalize on pickleball’s growing popularity. Even Tom Brady and LeBron James have already made significant investments, further pushing the popularity of the sport.

Gronkowski walking on the path laid down by Brady and James

Pickleball has been in existence since 1965. But it witnessed a significant increase in popularity during the pandemic, as people were searching for a participatory sport. And last year, Tom Brady and four-time major tennis champion Kim Clijsters invested in the sport, becoming a part of an ownership group for a Major League Pickleball expansion team. Just a month prior to this, NBA star LeBron James also jumped onto the bandwagon, headlining a new ownership group with NBA champions Draymond Green, Kevin Love, and other investors. And with such big names collaborating with the sport, the market size is expected to grow from $152.8 million in 2021 to $256.1 million in 2028.

With America slowly becoming the home and mecca of pickleball, it won’t be long before the sport finds itself in a worldwide forum like other sports. But till then, it will be interesting to see how Gronkowski’s investment, along with others, helps boost the popularity of the sport in the coming days ahead. 

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