On a Wednesday morning in October 2025, the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce hosted its “Wake Up Naples” event at the Naples Hilton, spotlighting the economic influence of professional sports in the region. Attendees enjoyed a gourmet breakfast while learning how athletic organizations contribute to local business vitality and community engagement. n nBob Strommen, founder of Naples JBB United—a professional pickleball team—and operator of the Naples Pickleball Center, discussed the sport’s rising popularity. Known as the “Pickleball Capital of the World,” Naples has seen significant growth in this activity since its inception in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Barney McCallum, and Bill Bell. The team’s name honors these pioneers. Beyond recreation, the sport promotes health, social interaction, and intergenerational connection, especially among residents over 50. n nStrommen emphasized both the societal and financial benefits, projecting the sport’s economic value to reach $3.85 billion by 2030. He also highlighted upcoming educational initiatives, including a children’s comic book series featuring characters like BERT Poach and Rally, aimed at teaching values such as gratitude and teamwork. n nThe National Pickleball League (NPL), catering to players aged 50 and above, currently includes 12 teams and is expanding rapidly. According to a 2023 report by the Association of Pickleball Players (APP), nearly 9 million people played pickleball at least eight times in a 12-month period. n nRoberto Moreno, club president and co-founder of FC Naples, followed with insights on professional soccer’s regional impact. Competing in the United Soccer League (USL)—a second-tier league in the U.S. and Canada—FC Naples plays in a structure that includes League One, League Two, and the Championship. Founded in 2010, the USL has grown quickly, with 36 professional clubs in 2023 and an expected 75 by 2027. Youth development is also expanding, with 150 youth clubs in 2023 and a projected 250 by 2027. n nThe team’s digital presence is strong, accumulating 10 million social media impressions and 21,785 followers across platforms. Broadcast viewership for home games reached 42,934 by July 2025, while live attendance totaled 55,301 across 16 games year-to-date. Merchandise sales exceeded $5,000, and the Paradise Coast Sports Complex is expected to draw 750,000 visitors in 2025, benefiting nearby businesses. n nModerated by Adam Fisher of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, the session included a Q&A that engaged local business leaders. Both speakers expressed pride in how sports foster economic development and civic pride. The next “Wake Up Naples” event, scheduled for October 29, will focus on aging well in Southwest Florida. n
— news from Florida Weekly
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Economic power of sports revealed at Wake Up Chamber event
The business of play was the topic being kicked around early Wednesday morning at the Naples Hilton. More specifically, the economic impact of local professional sports at this Chamber of Commerce meeting. n nGuests at Wake Up Naples scored a gourmet breakfast at this recurring event hosted by the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. Though baseball was not one of the topics being discussed, the morning scored a home run in providing information about the power of professional sports in the local economy. n nServing up first was Bob Strommen, founder of Naples JBB United, the professional pickleball team. Strommen, owner and operator of the Naples Pickleball Center spoke about what makes this growing pastime so popular. n nNaples is often dubbed the Pickleball Capital of the World, and Strommen has been instrumental in supporting growth of this widespread pastime. The team’s name, JBB, is a tribute to the three founders of pickleball: Joel Pritchard, Barney McCallum, and Bill Bell, who established the sport in 1965. Beyond being a sports team, Naples JBB United serves as a community asset, promoting healthy lifestyles, social connection, and community impact, particularly for people older than age 50. n nStrommen is just as satisfied with the economic impact of the sport, which is estimated to reach 3.85 billion by n n2030, as he is with the camaraderie developed within the pickleball community. n n“In addition to the economic development it’s the community aspect of this sport. It is just as impactful to quality of life as it is to businesses. It fuels a passion for social engagement,” Strommen said. n nThe impact to health and wellness as well as the alliance built while playing is one factor that sets this sport apart for many in the Southwest Florida region. n n“There is unusually broad spectrum of active engaged people in this area,” Strommen said. n n“Various ages of people are likeminded in their attitudes towards wellness. It adds to the fabric, culture and value of our community.” n nEven the young ones are learning about BERT Poach and Rally. A children’s comic book series is in the works for interested youngsters eager to play. n nHere again Strommen stresses the wellness aspect of the endeavor. n n“The comic books will introduce ideas we want to foster. Gratitude, Sportsmanship, cooperation. Things that are important in a kid’s league,” he said. n nMuch like other professional sports, Pickleball is broken into leagues for which teams like Naples JBB United play and compete. There are different Divisions within the League. Strommen explained the National Pickleball League (NPL) is a professional league for professionals aged 50 and above. n nCurrently comprised of 12 teams, Strommen shared with the crowd how rapidly the league is expanding with more new teams ready to jump into the volley. n nIn a 2023 report by the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Pickleball Participation reports that nearly 9 million people played the sport eight or more times within the studied 12-month period. n nThe goal of the next speaker, Roberto Moreno from FC Naples, was to showcase the popularity of professional soccer. The newly formed team is already making an impact on the league it represents, the USL. n nMoreno is the club president and co-founder of FC Naples. Moreno is also a board member at Patro Eisden, minority owner at Leyton Orient Football Club and minority owner at SC Preußen Münster. n nIn the United States and Canda there are leagues and divisions for team competition. The first-tier league is Major League Soccer (MLS) for which Inter Miami and Orlando City play. n nFC Naples is in the second-tier league, the United Soccer League (USL). The USL is split into three divisions: League One, League Two, and the Championship. Moreno is encouraged at how quickly the USL, formed in 2010, is growing. Here in Southwest Florida, it has rapidly galvanized the community to support the local team. n nAs of 2023 there were 36 professional clubs in the league with Moreno anticipating 75 by 2027. There are also pre-professional clubs called youth clubs for young talent, many of whom move up as their skills grow. There were 150 youth clubs in 2023 and 250 are anticipated by 2027. n nNot only is the team getting fans excited on the pitch it has a large online and broadcast presence as well. Moreno shared with the crowd how much of an impact the team is having on social media. FC Naples has10 million total views/impressions on social media. It boasts 21,785 followers on facebook, X, Youtube and others. n nThe broadcast presence is a winner as well. Broadcast viewership was 42,934 watchers for home games through July 2025. Even numbers for those watching from the stands are impressive. n nIn 16 games year to date, FC Naples has a total game attendance of 55301 adding to the local economy and the local pride. n nSpeaking of the local economy, merchandise and jersey (kit) sales have totaled over five thousand. The businesses around the paradise Coast Sports Complex (PCSC) where the team plays benefit from the projected 750 000 visitor-total for 2025. n nProviding play-by-play for the morning was moderator Adam Fisher of the Media Relations Bureau of the Collier County Sherriff’s Office. Before joining the office, he spent more than two decades as a sports reporter, covering every single sport that exists in Southwest Florida. n nAfter the speakers, Fisher led the question-and-answer session scoring points for keeping the conversation going. n nMembers of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and other business leaders in attendance were no longer sitting on the bench watching the action; they got to pose questions and engage in further conversation with the trio. n nBoth Strommen and Moreno are proud that the team represents how sports organizations boost the local economy and create community engagement. n nEven though FC Naples mini-soccer stress balls were decorating the tables at the Wake Up Naples event, it looks like we don’t need to stress about the popularity of professional sports in our region. n nThe next Wake UP Naples event, each of which is held at Hilton Naples, n n5111 Tamiami Trail North, is 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 29 titled Vitality in Paradise: Aging Well in Southwest Florida. This moderated panel discussion will feature experts from senior care organizations to shine a light on the realities of aging in Southwest Florida. n nOn Nov. 12, the 2025 Distinguished Public Service Awards are to be presented by the Greater Naples Chamber in recognition and honor of first responders. This annual event was first established in 2003.