Pickleball News

Largest pickleball tournament is coming to Rockwall with coverage on TV

USA Pickleball Association/Facebook

A pickleball tournament is coming to town that will draw some of the biggest names in the field, as well as coverage on TV.

It's the Selkirk Texas Open, a professional and amateur pickleball tournament hosted by the Carvana PPA Tour that'll feature more than 1,500 registered athletes and welcome thousands of spectators and fans.

The tournament takes place at the Oasis Pickleball Club in Rockwall, at 5757 State Hwy 205, on June 1-4 from 10 am-6 pm. The 2023 event marks the fourth year PPA Tour returns to Rockwall.

The Selkirk Texas Open is positioned not only as the largest PPA Tour event in the history of pickleball, but also the largest pickleball tournament ever held in Texas. Much large.

This event is the first time that the PPA Tour has partnered with USA Pickleball, pickleball’s governing body, on a Golden Ticket Event.

Golden Tickets provide entry to the USA Pickleball National Championships, the crown jewel of pickleball competition, which will take place in Texas November 4-12, 2023 and host nearly 5,000 registered players.

Texas is practically Pickleball Central; it's home to more professional players than any other state, including Ben Johns, Riley Newman, Collin Johns, Lea Jansen, Vivienne David, Julian Arnold, Lauren Stratman, Dekel Bar, DJ Young, Zane Navratil, Lina Padegimaite, and Thomas Wilson.

Some of those players including world’s top male and female pros, including Ben Johns (Men’s No. 1), and Anna Leigh Waters (Women’s No. 1), Riley Newman (Men’s No. 2), and Anna Bright (Women’s No. 2), will be competing in this event.

They'll face off against pros from Russia, Slovakia, France, Germany, Israel, Mexico, and Canada. This pickleball thing has gone international.

They'll be competing for a total of $238,314 in prize money.

Aside from the massive influx of pickleball players and the sheer pickleball momentum, the tournament will also be covered on ESPN and CBS Sports. Major big deal. Also an opportunity to get yourself on TV even if it would only be a tiny speck in the audience sea.

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Pickleball News

Indoor pickleball concept from Georgia bounces into Frisco

Ace

Pickleball paddles face off.

There's a new indoor pickleball concept coming to Dallas: Called Ace Pickleball Club, it's a growing chain from Georgia, making its Texas debut in Frisco in an old BuyBuy Baby space at at 2930 Preston Rd. #600. According to a release, it opens July 12.

Ace Pickleball was founded in Roswell, Georgia in 2023, and calls itself the only facility of its kind, delivering a member-focused approach and all-inclusive pricing.

Professional-grade cushioned courts and a welcoming community create the optimal playing experience for all skill levels. The chain currently has 15 locations across the U.S. including Colorado, Oklahoma, and Illinois.

They emphasize an inclusive community with unlimited open play, and offer clinics, tournaments, social events, and ball machine reservations. They also offer paddle demos so that members can test out the newest technology from a variety of brands to find their favorite.

When they open, they'll offer free introductory pickleball clinics for beginners to go over the rules of the sport and feel more comfortable as they learn about the game.

Ace Pickleball ClubAce Pickleball Club

Indoor facilities have an advantage in that they're impervious to weather so players can play year-round.

The Frisco location is a nearly 33,000-square-foot facility with 11 full-size courts and one dinking court designed to welcome players of all skill levels. Memberships are $129 monthly with the first month free.

Bringing the concept to Frisco is Juan Menchaca, a former corporate worker who is a pickleball player himself. When he and his wife relocated to the DFW area in May 2023, he brought with him a lifelong dream of opening a sports facility.

Introduced to pickleball by his brother-in-law, who is now training to go pro in pickleball, Menchaca was instantly hooked by the game’s fast pace, simple rules, and strong sense of community.

Opening a dedicated pickleball facility felt like the ideal first serve into the world of sports.

“I saw the demand I knew Ace Pickleball Club was the right fit,” Menchaca says. “The model is perfect for all skill levels across the Frisco community. I’ve always wanted to create something people could rally around, and this not only provides that, but helps in bringing our community closer.”

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