After hosting the largest Minto U.S. Open Pickleball Championships since its 2016 inception, the new owners have plans that will grow the international tournament, add new facilities and lessen the burden on county funds.
Pickleball4America, which merged with Spirit Promotions in December 2022, now owns the event after Spirit Promotions and championship founders Terri Graham and Chris Evon sold the event rights after this year’s championships at East Naples Community Park, April 26-May 3. Known as one of the world’s most prestigious tournaments, it’s aired on CBS Sports Network and draws top players worldwide, including No. 1 champion Anna Leigh Waters, 17, of Delray Beach, who won two gold medals.
“It was by all accounts the most successful and most well-attended U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in history,” Pickleball4America co-founder and CEO Mike Dee told the Tourist Development Council on July 16.
Dee was the former CEO of the Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, and his business partner, Bob Bowman, is a former MLB Advanced Media president and chief executive. Dee addressed the TDC and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board last week, outlining the 2024 championship numbers:
- The championship drew 51,000 visitors, up from 41,000 last year, and 3,250 players and 460 pros, compared with 850 players and 6,000 spectators in 2016.
- Medals were awarded in more than 260 events, plus a record $150,000 in prize money.
- For 2,800 spots in 5,000 matches, there were 5,200 registrants from 50 states and 31 countries.
- 73% of participants were 50 years or older and 42% were women.
- Admission is free, except for the championship court area, where there were three buyers for each ticket.
“These are people that come here, stay here and the average night stay is three nights in a hotel. They’re spending money, they’re going out to eat. … The hotels love this event because it really moves the needle for them at the beginning of the shoulder season,” he said, referring to the end of season.
The Board of County Commissioners said there was a need to reassess the TDC’s $345,000 yearly marketing commitment to the event, so Dee said he’s working on a long-term strategy, including marketing and promoting the event and the 64-court Naples Pickleball Center, which is managed by another entity.
“The world is shifting and a lot of people have figured out what Collier County was first to figure out, which is pickleball is a sport that drives tourism, drives economic value and drives interest from people wanting to play, especially in sunshine states,” Dee said, adding that seven more pickleball centers have either opened or are opening this year and many are asking him to move the U.S. Open.
Future plans include a year-round U.S. Open Pickleball Academy and working with county schools and the county’s Parks & Rec division to lease six courts for the academy beginning in September. “We believe it can become the premier teaching facility in the country and bring another 10,000 to 20,000 people over time,” he said.
Other future plans include building an entrance gate, doubling the number of shaded courts and adding waterproof shades, moving the community center, adding 12 covered championship courts, possibly installing cooling misters, and leasing private property for more parking.
Using TDC funds, the county spent $330,000 to resurface 60 courts last year. Spirit Promotions is responsible for maintaining four covered championship courts, but Dee said they want to assume maintenance for all pickleball courts, facilities, nets, windscreens and resurfacing under its new long-term lease extension, while Parks & Rec would continue maintenance of park grounds and parking lots.
