Young adults and influencers are ditching dating apps in favor of in-person activities like running clubs, sports leagues, gyms, and pickleball courts to find emotionally mature partners ready for commitment. These activities provide opportunities for socializing, flirting, and meeting potential partners through shared interests and a friendly, competitive atmosphere.
Pickleball Dating is an app co-founded by Jyl Steinback that helps pickleball players find love, friends, or potential partners who share their passion for the sport. The app allows users to connect based on interests and location.
Pickleball courts in New York City, particularly on Houston and Sixth Avenue, as well as James J Walker Park and Pier 2 in Dumbo, have become hotspots for Gen Zs and millennials to play, socialize, and potentially find love. The small court size and casual vibe allow for chatting and flirting between games.
Running clubs like the Lunge Run Club in Manhattan have seen a surge in attendance, with some attracting over 400 attendees, as singles seek opportunities to meet potential partners through shared interests and post-workout socializing.
Couples like Yael and Emma, Danielle and her boyfriend, and Maureen and Daphne (who met playing kickball) have found romance through sports like pickleball and kickball.
While some individuals are skeptical about dating workout partners due to potential fallouts affecting their shared gym experiences, others actively seek out new pickleball courts, tournaments, and singles nights organized by sports leagues and clubs to meet potential partners.
Sources: The Cut, New York Post, phoenix.org
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
