Latest news with #Sports&FitnessIndustryAssociation
Axios
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Axios
Jefferson Parish opens $2 million pickleball complex
Jefferson Parish opened a $2 million pickleball complex over the weekend in Metairie at Mike Miley Playground. Why it matters: Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. The big picture: The pickleball complex has nine new covered courts and four refurbished ones with lights for free play, leagues and tournaments, according to the parish. It also has two small covered areas for spectators and players, along with a new parking lot. By the numbers: At the groundbreaking in 2023, the parish estimated the project would cost about $1 million, which would be funded from the recreation millage tax. The actual pricetag came in a touch over $2 million, parish spokesperson Rachel Strassel tells Axios New Orleans. She said the original project ended up costing more than quoted. The parish paid $1.25 million from the millage, and council member Deano Bonano covered the remaining $800,000 from a discretionary fund, she said. Zoom out: Pickleball participation nationally has grown more than 220% in the past three years, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Even Drew Brees is getting in on the action. He hosts an annual pickleball tournament in New Orleans and is part owner of a Major League Pickleball team in Austin. New Orleans metro has at least 30 pickleball facilities, including options through NORD and City Park, according to which maps courts and their amenities. The Exchange Pickleball + Bar on Tchoupitoulas Street, Brees' Pickle N Pins and Ochsner Fitness Center in Elmwood have indoor courts available for a fee too. If you go: The new pickleball facility is open daily from 8am to 9pm. It's next to the Ree Alario Multi-Purpose Center at 500 Pickleball Court.
NBC News
01-04-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Trump tariff tumult has ripples for sporting goods, puts costly hockey gear in price-hike crosshair
Calls from the U.S. to Roustan Hockey headquarters in Canada in recent weeks have been anything but routine, as bulk orders of name-brand sticks have suddenly become complicated conversations. 'These customers want to know: When their orders ship, will they have to pay an additional 25% tariff? And we respond by saying, 'Well, right now we don't know, so they postpone their order or cancel their order because they want to know before they order what the cost is going to be,' said Graeme Roustan, who owns the company that makes and sells more than 100,000 hockey sticks annually to the U.S. market. The prospect of 25% tariffs by President Donald Trump on Canadian imports, currently paused for some goods but facing full implementation on Wednesday, has caused headaches if not havoc throughout the commercial ecosystem. The sports equipment industry is certainly no exception, with so many of the products manufactured for sports -loving Americans outside of the U.S. No two countries in the world are intertwined athletically more than Canada and the U.S. are with hockey, either, making mere talk of a trade war a spreadsheet-shuffler — and potentially a budget-buster — for businesses based around the rink and the consumers of their products. Roustan Hockey bought the Christian and Northland brands that originated in Minnesota and now manufactures them with other products under its umbrella in Brantford, Ontario, the town where Wayne Gretzky grew up about 60 miles (100 kilometers) southwest of Toronto. About 40% of Roustan's business is with the U.S. market, and about 90% of sales of Christian and Northland gear go to American customers. 'Our business with the U.S. is steady right now because people are trying to get their orders in before the tariffs take effect, but I'm very concerned that once the tariffs go into effect that there will be people in, say, Minnesota who will think twice about buying a Christian or a Northland stick because of the 25% tariff,' Roustan said in a phone interview. 'So the unknown is still unknown.' Many pieces of retail hockey equipment originate in Asia, including China. Mexico is another player in the market, home to a factory for Warrior brand sticks, for example. Those countries are in the tariff crosshairs, too. 'Whether it's in effect for a week or gets retracted or whether it's a future date where we're going to have some announcement, all that makes it very challenging to run and operate a business,' said Todd Smith, the chief executive officer of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. 'The general viewpoint is uneasiness and confusion.' Roustan bought Bauer's hockey outfitting business from Nike in 2008 and oversaw that company for four years. By the time Roustan assumed control, he said, Bauer — born in Canada in 1927 and a ubiquitous name in the sport — had shifted all of its manufacturing sites to Asia for cost savings on labor and facilities. 'The industry has done an admirable job of manufacturing across the globe while doing as much as they possibly can domestically,' Smith said. 'The components made internationally are made internationally because we don't have the manufacturing capability in the U.S. and we don't have the workforce.' In hockey, of course, a lot of gear is required to take the ice. That gear is also notoriously expensive, which puts this sport as subject to the tariff tumult as any. Just in North America, hockey equipment is a $1.3 billion business and growing, as estimated by Grand View market research. Any added cost from the import tax will almost certainly trickle down to the consumer. Organizations like SFIA have long had an eye on rising costs of youth sports, concerned about the effect on participation and driven to increase accessibility to all activities in underprivileged communities. 'If folks aren't aware of it now, they should be well aware that tariffs are bad for sports across the board,' Smith said. The shows will still go on, tariffs or not Most families with kids in sports are busy enough shuttling those young athletes to practices and shopping for the next round of gear that topics like international politics, global economics and commercial supply chains usually get the backseat. Tariffs might drive up the price of hockey sticks? Well, just add that to the pile. For Jeremiah Lamont and his family in Minneapolis, staying on top of the equipment inventory for two hockey-playing boys is enough of project on its own. Paying for it is another story, as his 12-year-old son Max enters each new stage of competition. 'The youth skates cost about $200. Well, his foot grows a half-inch, he can't get into the youth ones, and now those same skates are $450,' Lamont said, estimating the current total cost of gear at more than $1,500, some of which must be annually replaced. Ice time and travel costs sold separately, of course. 'He likes it. It's good for him. So we just figure, 'Why not?'' Lamont said. The sticker shock is real for hockey newbies, as Kelley Baer and her family in Colorado found out when now-13-year-old Brian got going on the ice. Sticks, skates, helmets, shin guards, elbow and shoulder pads, chest protectors, neck guards, they all add up. Those sticks don't always last the season, either, that vital-yet-fragile piece of equipment perpetually at risk for fracturing from an awkward hit — or in a moment of frustration. In the NHL, a replacement is always at the ready. A pile of sticks is a luxury many young players don't have. 'I'm like, 'No, no, no, no, no! That is a $400 stick. Do not slam that thing on the ice!' Baer said. 'We always laugh about that, but it's also very serious. We used it as a gateway of a conversation about showing your emotions on the ice and how you've got to be able to contain that as a leader. If you start losing your mind and slamming your stick, that's a disadvantage for you.' The life lessons in sports run as deep as the passions that fuel this giant slice of economy and culture. 'Yes, it's expensive and we are fortunate in that we can afford it,' Baer said. 'He's our kid, and we love him. We want to support him in what he wants to do, and we'll figure out a way.'
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Expect to See These 15 Spring Wellness Trends Everywhere
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." As spring starts to show herself more and more, many people, including myself, are resurrecting from the grip of seasonal depression. The colder months can wreak havoc on our health and well-being, whether it's skipping workouts or getting lost in doom scrolling. That tracks. I'm not sure about you, but the sun setting by 4 p.m. doesn't do much for my morale or motivation. That's why spring, with its longer and warmer days, feels like the ideal moment to embrace new wellness practices you've bookmarked on TikTok and Instagram. There are endless new activities and trends that can support your wellness journey, whatever that means and looks like for you. The best part? They don't have to be intense shifts or be super expensive. Spotted a new recipe from With Love, Meghan? Make it your mission to try it out for yourself. Have you felt the positive effects of at-home Pilates? Consider adding some gentle stretches to your morning routine and keep track of how you progress. This season is about letting your actions speak for themselves because I hate to say it, but yes, the Wellness Girlies were right: you *will* make you feel better overall. If this all sounds fine and dandy but you're unsure on where to start, don't fret, I got you. I hit up two experts for all the best spring wellness trends of 2025. Keep reading to find something new to add into your routines! Even though the seasons are changing, let's be honest: finding the time and, most importantly, the energy to work out can be overwhelming sometimes. That's why Cozy Cardio has become a longstanding fitness trend. The workout has all the elements that provide comfort for those days when you don't feel like taking a morning run or going to a crowded gym. A major bonus in fitness-related wellness practices is finding a like-minded community. "People are in search ways to connect,' says therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab, especially in this post-pandemic society. So this spring, you'll likely see even more running clubs, walking groups, and a variety of community-based activities sprouting up that help people feel supported and give them something to be a part of. 'Initiating some of those connections is really beneficial for our mental health,' adds Tawwab. In today's climate, there's a lot to be frustrated with—socially, economically, and beyond—so the trend of rage workouts, which is any exercise that is meant to engage and release frustration in a healthy way, is starting to appear more often. This can be a treadmill run set to a specific playlist, boxing, or HIIT training, but activities like Pilates and yoga can release suppressed emotions, too, helping you bring your frustrations to the forefront while getting your heart pumping. Pickleball has been everywhere for the last few years, and it's not going anywhere anytime soon: According to a report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball has grown 51.8 percent from 2022 to 2023. This sport is a way for people to connect and meet new friends and bond over shared interest. You can play it inside, too, so those rainy spring days won't hold you back! Plus, who doesn't love a cutesy little pickleball outfit?! I know, I know. This one is tried and true, and that's for a reason! 'One really good way to manage anxiety or depression is to get outside and to move,' says Tawwab. Having nice weather helps you embrace what nature has to offer. Whether it's a hike, bike ride, Hot Girl Walk, or a simple quick jog, try to get outside so you can soak up that Vitamin D and get some movement in. Although this doesn't sound like the sexiest topic, surprisingly, thanks to the Internet, more people are talking about the importance of gut health. 'We're seeing fiber become much more prominent, whether in the form of vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, seeds, or supplements,' says nutritionist Kylie Sakaida, RD, author of So Easy So Good. Fermented foods and drinks (like kimchi or kombucha), probiotics, and green powders have all been a part of the "healthy gut" convo too. This season, you'll probably see people trying alternatives to traditional sodas, Brands like Olipop and Poppi, as a way to avoid a lot of sugar intake. If you've scrolled through TikTok, you'll likely be familiar with the bone broth trend. Many posters have said they consume one cup daily for unverified beauty regimen purposes (like clear skin) and to increase their protein intake. 'Bone broth can be a cool way to include more protein, but a lot of the health benefits that people claim it has aren't shown to have this miraculous effect on you,' says Sakaida. 'If you're drinking bone broth and restricting something else in your diet, that's not helpful, but if you're adding it to your diet on top of everything else, I think it's truly one of the least harmful trends.' Whether you're purchasing your first potted plant or finally growing a garden, one of the trends in the wellness space is an increased commitment to people becoming plant parents. 'Gardening is a beautiful self-care practice,' says Tawwab. 'Whether that's a patio window seal or you have the land to really do it up, try having a practice of getting into nature and watching something grow and thrive, and being a part of that.' In the spring season, cooking can become a way to try new recipes and creatively express yourself and your culture through food. 'People can also see other snacks or meals that work for other people," says Sakaida. "I know myself, I love to go on social media and get meal inspo ideas from everyone else.' Community doesn't just have to be for physical activities; book clubs are growing into a major gathering for friends to bond and have new ways to hang out aside from the typical brunch or happy hour dates. Before you clutch your pearls, artificial intelligence has become a part of many daily routines. It can help you strategize from any aspect, from a workout or meal plan to navigating conflict with loved ones. 'One of the things that's really cool with AI is that it can give people ways to say hard things, like, 'How do I kindly decline a dinner invite?'" explains Tawwad. "It will give you some strategies on ways to be able to have some healthier conversations when you want to bring up a rough topic.' Falling asleep can be hard in an era dominated by endless scrolling and constant messaging. While the Sleepy Girl Mocktail isn't new, the warmer months inspire individuals to find fresh methods for maintaining a disciplined sleep routine. This mocktail recipe blends ice, cherry juice, magnesium powder, and a lemon-flavored soda or sparkling water, creating a mix that promotes easier sleep. I'm going to hold your hand while I say this, especially for all you night owls: Sleeping really does improve your overall wellness. I know, it's a hard one to swallow, especially when work deadlines have you up late or your deep in a TV show binge. But out bodies truly crave rest, especially as we get older. This spring, you will likely see a trend of people being more committed to a set sleep time and sticking to that boundary. Raise your hand if you've ever been personally victimized by your Sunday screentime report *raises hand*. That thing needs to mind its business! Most of us are chronically online, which makes sense! There's so much fun content to consume (both on social media and within traditional media, like TV and movies), but cutting back on the blue light is a big focus for a lot of people this year. It doesn't have to be a major change either: 'Something that has helped me recently has been not looking at my phone when I wake up,' says Sakaida. Whether it's the first five minutes of the morning, people are learning to give themselves a moment of peace before jumping into the algorithm. You Might Also Like Here's What NOT to Wear to a Wedding Meet the Laziest, Easiest Acne Routine You'll Ever Try
CBS News
31-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Trump tariffs could impact hockey gear prices in Minnesota
Calls from the U.S. to Roustan Hockey headquarters in Canada in recent weeks have been anything but routine, as bulk orders of name-brand sticks have suddenly become complicated conversations. "These customers want to know: When their orders ship, will they have to pay an additional 25% tariff? And we respond by saying, 'Well, right now we don't know, so they postpone their order or cancel their order because they want to know before they order what the cost is going to be," said Graeme Roustan, who owns the company that makes and sells more than 100,000 hockey sticks annually to the U.S. market. The prospect of 25% tariffs by President Donald Trump on Canadian imports, currently paused for some goods but facing full implementation on Wednesday , has caused headaches if not havoc throughout the commercial ecosystem. The sports equipment industry is certainly no exception, with so many of the products manufactured for sports-loving Americans outside of the U.S. No two countries in the world are intertwined athletically more than Canada and the U.S. are with hockey , either, making mere talk of a trade war a spreadsheet-shuffler — and potentially a budget-buster — for businesses based around the rink and the consumers of their products. Roustan Hockey bought the Christian and Northland brands that originated in Minnesota and now manufactures them with other products under its umbrella in Brantford, Ontario, the town where Wayne Gretzky grew up about 60 miles southwest of Toronto. About 40% of Roustan's business is with the U.S. market, and about 90% of sales of Christian and Northland gear go to American customers. "Our business with the U.S. is steady right now because people are trying to get their orders in before the tariffs take effect, but I'm very concerned that once the tariffs go into effect that there will be people in, say, Minnesota who will think twice about buying a Christian or a Northland stick because of the 25% tariff," Roustan said in a phone interview. "So the unknown is still unknown." Many pieces of retail hockey equipment originate in Asia, including China. Mexico is another player in the market, home to a factory for Warrior brand sticks , for example. Those countries are in the tariff crosshairs, too. "Whether it's in effect for a week or gets retracted or whether it's a future date where we're going to have some announcement, all that makes it very challenging to run and operate a business," said Todd Smith, the chief executive officer of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. "The general viewpoint is uneasiness and confusion." Roustan bought Bauer's hockey outfitting business from Nike in 2008 and oversaw that company for four years. By the time Roustan assumed control, he said, Bauer — born in Canada in 1927 and a ubiquitous name in the sport — had shifted all of its manufacturing sites to Asia for cost savings on labor and facilities. "The industry has done an admirable job of manufacturing across the globe while doing as much as they possibly can domestically," Smith said. "The components made internationally are made internationally because we don't have the manufacturing capability in the U.S. and we don't have the workforce." In hockey, of course, a lot of gear is required to take the ice. That gear is also notoriously expensive, which puts this sport as subject to the tariff tumult as any. Just in North America, hockey equipment is a $1.3 billion business and growing, as estimated by Grand View market research. Any added cost from the import tax will almost certainly trickle down to the consumer. Organizations like SFIA have long had an eye on rising costs of youth sports, concerned about the effect on participation and driven to increase accessibility to all activities in underprivileged communities. "If folks aren't aware of it now, they should be well aware that tariffs are bad for sports across the board," Smith said. Most families with kids in sports are busy enough shuttling those young athletes to practices and shopping for the next round of gear that topics like international politics, global economics and commercial supply chains usually get the backseat. Tariffs might drive up the price of hockey sticks? Well, just add that to the pile. For Jeremiah Lamont and his family in Minneapolis, staying on top of the equipment inventory for two hockey-playing boys is enough of a project on its own. Paying for it is another story, as his 12-year-old son Max enters each new stage of competition. "The youth skates cost about $200. Well, his foot grows a half-inch, he can't get into the youth ones, and now those same skates are $450," Lamont said, estimating the current total cost of gear at more than $1,500, some of which must be annually replaced. Ice time and travel costs sold separately, of course. "He likes it. It's good for him. So we just figure, 'Why not?'" Lamont said. The sticker shock is real for hockey newbies, as Kelley Baer and her family in Colorado found out when now-13-year-old Brian got going on the ice. Sticks, skates, helmets, shin guards, elbow and shoulder pads, chest protectors, neck guards, they all add up. Those sticks don't always last the season, either, that vital-yet-fragile piece of equipment perpetually at risk for fracturing from an awkward hit — or in a moment of frustration. In the NHL, a replacement is always at the ready. A pile of sticks is a luxury many young players don't have. "I'm like, "No, no, no, no, no! That is a $400 stick. Do not slam that thing on the ice!" Baer said. "We always laugh about that, but it's also very serious. We used it as a gateway of a conversation about showing your emotions on the ice and how you've got to be able to contain that as a leader. If you start losing your mind and slamming your stick, that's a disadvantage for you." The life lessons in sports run as deep as the passions that fuel this giant slice of economy and culture. "Yes, it's expensive and we are fortunate in that we can afford it," Baer said. "He's our kid, and we love him. We want to support him in what he wants to do, and we'll figure out a way."
The Independent
31-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Trump tariff tumult has ripples for sporting goods, puts costly hockey gear in price-hike crosshair
Calls from the U.S. to Roustan Hockey headquarters in Canada in recent weeks have been anything but routine, as bulk orders of name-brand sticks have suddenly become complicated conversations. 'These customers want to know: When their orders ship, will they have to pay an additional 25% tariff? And we respond by saying, 'Well, right now we don't know, so they postpone their order or cancel their order because they want to know before they order what the cost is going to be,' said Graeme Roustan, who owns the that makes and sells more than 100,000 hockey sticks annually to the U.S. market. The prospect of 25% tariffs by President Donald Trump on Canadian imports, currently paused for some goods but facing full implementation on Wednesday, has caused headaches if not havoc throughout the commercial ecosystem. The sports equipment industry is certainly no exception, with so many of the products manufactured for sports -loving Americans outside of the U.S. No two countries in the world are intertwined athletically more than Canada and the U.S. are with hockey, either, making mere talk of a trade war a spreadsheet-shuffler — and potentially a budget-buster — for businesses based around the rink and the consumers of their products. Roustan Hockey bought the Christian and Northland brands that originated in Minnesota and now manufactures them with other products under its umbrella in Brantford, Ontario, the town where Wayne Gretzky grew up about 60 miles (100 kilometers) southwest of Toronto. About 40% of Roustan's business is with the U.S. market, and about 90% of sales of Christian and Northland gear go to American customers. 'Our business with the U.S. is steady right now because people are trying to get their orders in before the tariffs take effect, but I'm very concerned that once the tariffs go into effect that there will be people in, say, Minnesota who will think twice about buying a Christian or a Northland stick because of the 25% tariff,' Roustan said in a phone interview. 'So the unknown is still unknown.' Many pieces of retail hockey equipment originate in Asia, including China. Mexico is another player in the market, home to a factory for Warrior brand sticks, for example. Those countries are in the tariff crosshairs, too. 'Whether it's in effect for a week or gets retracted or whether it's a future date where we're going to have some announcement, all that makes it very challenging to run and operate a business,' said Todd Smith, the chief executive officer of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. 'The general viewpoint is uneasiness and confusion.' Roustan bought Bauer's hockey outfitting business from Nike in 2008 and oversaw that company for four years. By the time Roustan assumed control, he said, Bauer — born in Canada in 1927 and a ubiquitous name in the sport — had shifted all of its manufacturing sites to Asia for cost savings on labor and facilities. 'The industry has done an admirable job of manufacturing across the globe while doing as much as they possibly can domestically,' Smith said. 'The components made internationally are made internationally because we don't have the manufacturing capability in the U.S. and we don't have the workforce.' In hockey, of course, a lot of gear is required to take the ice. That gear is also notoriously expensive, which puts this sport as subject to the tariff tumult as any. Just in North America, hockey equipment is a $1.3 billion business and growing, as estimated by Grand View market research. Any added cost from the import tax will almost certainly trickle down to the consumer. Organizations like SFIA have long had an eye on rising costs of youth sports, concerned about the effect on participation and driven to increase accessibility to all activities in underprivileged communities. 'If folks aren't aware of it now, they should be well aware that tariffs are bad for sports across the board,' Smith said. The shows will still go on, tariffs or not Most families with kids in sports are busy enough shuttling those young athletes to practices and shopping for the next round of gear that topics like international politics, global economics and commercial supply chains usually get the backseat. Tariffs might drive up the price of hockey sticks? Well, just add that to the pile. For Jeremiah Lamont and his family in Minneapolis, staying on top of the equipment inventory for two hockey-playing boys is enough of project on its own. Paying for it is another story, as his 12-year-old son Max enters each new stage of competition. 'The youth skates cost about $200. Well, his foot grows a half-inch, he can't get into the youth ones, and now those same skates are $450,' Lamont said, estimating the current total cost of gear at more than $1,500, some of which must be annually replaced. Ice time and travel costs sold separately, of course. 'He likes it. It's good for him. So we just figure, 'Why not?'" Lamont said. The sticker shock is real for hockey newbies, as Kelley Baer and her family found out when now-13-year-old Brian got going on the ice. Sticks, skates, helmets, shin guards, elbow and should pads, chest protectors, neck guards, they all add up. Those sticks don't always last the season, either, that vital-yet-fragile piece of equipment perpetually at risk for fracturing from an awkward hit — or in a moment of frustration. In the NHL, a replacement is always at the ready. A pile of sticks is a luxury most young players don't have. 'I'm like, 'No, no, no, no, no! That is a $400 stick. Do not slam that thing on the ice!' Baer said. 'We always laugh about that, but it's also very serious. We used it as a gateway of a conversation about showing your emotions on the ice and how you've got to be able to contain that as a leader. If you start losing your mind and slamming your stick, that's a disadvantage for you.' The life lessons in sports run as deep as the passions that fuel this giant slice of economy and culture. 'Yes, it's expensive and we are fortunate in that we can afford it,' Baer said. 'He's our kid, and we love him. We want to support him in what he wants to do, and we'll figure out a way.' ___
