Walmart is increasing its support for sports in communities across the country by doubling the number of comped pickleball court reservations available through the sports booking platform Break the Love. The reservations, which are offered to Walmart customers, Walmart+ members and associates, provide access to courts, publicly accessible spaces, and affordable equipment to meet the growing demand for pickleball and other team sports on a national scale. The partnership between Walmart, the largest retailer in the US, and Break the Love, a leader in its space, aims to promote time spent with loved ones through sports.
This partnership has been successful in the past, exceeding monthly booking targets by over 50% and winning Modern Retail’s Best Brand Collaboration award. The renewed partnership not only continues to provide access to pickleball but also expands to golf, offering another activity to Walmart’s community. Parks and outdoor spaces have always brought communities together for Walmart consumers, and golf was a natural extension of their mission to promote shared experiences. Walmart and Break the Love hope to continue expanding into more sports categories in the near future.
“Expanding our collaboration with Break the Love allows Walmart to redefine our engagement and connect in unique, groundbreaking ways with our customers,” said Casey Schlaybaugh, VP brand marketing and strategy for Walmart US. “The program reinforces our unwavering commitment to enhancing our customers’ lives by establishing access to experiences that unify and strengthen our communities.”
National Access to Pickleball
To meet the high demand from last year, Walmart has decided to increase the number of free reservations it offers for its complementary courts. Now, the company will provide 250,000 free reservations for customers, Walmart+ members and associates. In order to access the courts, both Walmart and the complementary court brands will use proprietary technology created specifically for their partnership. This technology allows for “receipt verification,” which means that customers can upload their Walmart in-store or digital receipts to unlock a free court immediately.
Pop-Up Summer Series
Walmart and Break the Love are partnering to engage with customers across the country. As a part of this partnership, they are launching a new series called “Ultimate Park Days”. These pop-up events will be held in publicly accessible parks in Dallas, Salt Lake City, and the D.C. metro area. These events aim to bring communities together and promote well-being by providing a way for consumers to unite over their shared love of sports. Customers will be able to try and buy top sporting apparel and equipment picks, and there will also be recovery and nutrition products from featured brands such as Biofreeze and CLIF Bars, amongst others.
Creator-Led Meetups Across the Country
The partnership between Walmart and Break the Love will support 50 meetup events across the country. These events will be led by professional athletes and local creators, and they aim to create more opportunities for consumers to engage in recreational sports activities. Some of the athletes and creators participating in these events include Jalen Rose, who was an original member of the Fab Five, Julie Ertz, a retired soccer player, and Golden Tate, a Superbowl Champion.
Curated Pickleball Picks to Get Out and Play
Break the Love and Walmart have launched a new shopping experience on Walmart.com/PlayForAll to expand their shopping integration. This newly launched page includes sports equipment and apparel for consumers to shop from, along with the added convenience of booking complimentary courts. To further enhance community access to sports, Walmart and Break the Love are bringing pickleball experiences to select Walmart stores in Florida and Georgia later this year. This joint effort with select suppliers is a great step towards amplifying the partnership’s commitment to increasing sports accessibility.
“Given the success from last year, we are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Walmart providing even more people with access to unplug, get outside, and connect through recreational sport activities,” said Trisha Goyal, founder and CEO, Break Sports Inc. “We look forward to providing more access to court and now courses for customers while engaging with the community with new offerings nationwide.”
