Kitchen Talk: Pickleball Edition - The Visionionaries Behind The US Open

 

Chapter 1: Introduction to the US Open Pickleball Championships

The US Open Pickleball Championships has exploded in popularity since its inaugural event in 2016, morphing from a fledgling tournament with 800 players to the world's largest annual pickleball spectacle. Over just eight short years, founders Terry Graham and Chris Evon have stewarded exponential growth in participants while also cultivating an infectious, multi-generational atmosphere that makes the Open a must-attend event for players and fans alike.

1.1. Founding Amidst Accelerating Interest

Graham and Evon founded the US Open Pickleball Championships in 2016 after identifying a gap in the sport for a marquee tournament as part of their work in the broader paddle sports industry. With pickleball quickly gaining traction in the United States, they envisioned an open-entry competition focused equally on pros and amateurs to help accelerate interest in the burgeoning game. The first year's field of 800 players validated their belief in pickleball's imminent rise.

1.2. The Co-Founders' Vision

As co-founders, Graham and Evon's overarching goal was to showcase pickleball on the national stage. They landed a broadcast television deal with CBS Sports Network to air matches from the initial 2016 competition to help expand the event and sport's visibility. They also pioneered an inclusive, open-age format that welcomed professionals and novices while offering equal payouts across skill levels. This singular focus on spotlighting pickleball's merits fueled attention.

1.3. Understanding Pickleball's Surge

To comprehend the Open's viral success, it is essential to recognize pickleball's broader ascent in the United States. Between a fun format, low barriers to entry, and health benefits, pickleball appeals widely to children, working-age adults, and older populations. As seemingly the ideal lifesport, pickleball participation has swelled by 39.3% over the past two years alone, surpassing 4.8 million American players in 2022. Much of this grassroots traction served as a tailwind for the tournament itself.

Chapter 2: The Growth and Scale of the Tournament

In just eight short years, the US Open Pickleball Championships has morphed from an inaugural event with 800 competitors to what is widely considered the sport's marquee annual tournament. The Open's exponential growth in participants and fans underscores both accelerating interest in pickleball nationally and the co-founders' vision for creating a big-event atmosphere.

2.1. Surging Participation and Spectator Numbers

The growth in players and fans attending the Open is nothing short of staggering. The initial 2016 field featured 800 players and 2,000 spectators. By last year's 2023 tournament, participants swelled to over 3,000 while the number of fans in attendance skyrocketed to 40,000. For the 2024 Open, organizers project another increase to around 5,000 hopeful players through the registration lottery system, while spectators could approach 50,000.

Driving this unprecedented demand from participants and observers alike is the tournament's widespread appeal thanks to its multi-day festival format. With opportunities to watch elite talent, enter competitions, enjoy parties, and more, the event attracts diverse pickleball enthusiasts ranging from professionals to first-timers.

2.2 Opening Access Through Lottery Registration

Given swelling interest, the tournament began utilizing a registration lottery several years ago. The current system accepts lottery entries for five days, using a computerized drawing to randomly select around 3,000 players rather than a first-come, first-served queue. This helps reduce barriers to entry while still allowing organizers to cap total participants.

2.3. Catering to Crowds with Multiple Courts

Aiding the Open's ability to accommodate over 5,000 hopeful entrants and 50,000 spectators is its sprawling Naples, Florida venue. Encompassing 64 dedicated pickleball courts, the park-like facility provides plenty of competition space for different events and matches occurring simultaneously from dawn to dusk across the weeklong tournament. The vibrant atmosphere of players, music, food and drinks evokes a lively festival for attendees.

Chapter 3: The Competitors and Fans

A central aspect of the US Open Pickleball Championships' appeal is its diverse and passionate participant and fan base. Beyond the swelling numbers of attendees, what truly makes the event special is its multi-generational and multi-background player and spectator community united by a shared affection for pickleball.

3.1. Drawing Enthusiasts Ages 8 to 80+

While many tournaments segment by skill level or age brackets, the Open pioneered an open-division format welcoming players across ages and abilities. This singular approach gives rise to distinct matchups like a 12-year-old and 72-year-old competing as doubles partners. From talented juniors to vacationing retirees, the player spectrum spans over 70 years for those as young as 8 to older than 80.

Such age diversity lends itself to many families attending together across multiple generations. Parents enjoy watching their kids play while grandparents cheer on their grandkids, making for lasting memories through pickleball.

3.2. Providing Community For All

With multi-generational appeal also comes attraction from different groups and walks of life beyond just age. For some players managing stresses, health issues or seeking positive outlets, discovering pickleball and the Open community gives purpose. Hearing fellow player stories about what the sport means to them adds deeper meaning.

The Open's welcoming vibe resonates across ages, backgrounds and abilities. Seeing wheelchair athletes play competitive matches on the main stadium court sends a vivid message about inclusion. Ultimately this diversity in all forms makes attendees feel part of something special.