There is no slowdown in sight for the game of pickleball — especially at Life Time, where passion among those playing is at an all-time high. Focused on that continued growth, the company recently named tennis legend and pickleball enthusiast, Andre Agassi, as the inaugural chair of their newly formed pickleball and tennis board. Agassi and Bahram Akradi, Life Time founder, chairman, and CEO, will lead the board as cochairs.
With an illustrious career — including eight Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal — Agassi is an internationally renowned icon in the tennis world. Recently, he has nurtured a love of pickleball, playing multiple times each week and even investing in the sport through product design.
His passion and commitment to promoting active lifestyles aligns with Life Time’s mission to help people live healthier, happier lives. “I strongly support the ongoing growth of tennis and pickleball and could not be more excited to partner with Bahram and Life Time as we work to elevate these sports as a staple element for millions of people living healthy, active, and happy lives,” Agassi says.
Life Time has been committed to the expansion of pickleball since it started gaining popularity a few years ago. To date, the company has 630 permanent courts across the United States with a goal of 1,000 in its portfolio by the end of 2024. Life Time also operates more than 260 tennis courts nationwide.
The new pickleball and tennis board will serve to further promote a vibrant racquet sports community within their athletic country clubs. In his role as cochair, Agassi’s vision includes:
- Expanding racquet sport access: Making the sport more accessible for all ages and experience levels.
- Enhancing programming: Collaborating with Life Time’s expert coaches and instructors to develop innovative programs, clinics, events, and tournaments.
- Building community: Creating a sense of camaraderie among all racquet sports enthusiasts to foster connections both during and outside of play.
“I have enjoyed Andre’s illustrious career for more than four decades,” says Akradi. “He continues to be an inspiration to me and millions of others, both on and off the court. As a long-time friend and business partner, having Andre lead our Life Time pickleball and tennis board is a true honor. Together, I foresee endless possibilities for the impact we will have in the racquet community.”
