Minto US Open Pickleball Championships Powered by Margaritaville Returns to Naples

The largest and most prestigious event in pickleball since 2016 is back and bigger than ever, with a record number of players, the largest prize purse in US OPEN history, and a world-class field of players. An unprecedented 3,043 pickleball players of all ages and levels will head to Naples - “The Pickleball Capital of the World”—April 15-22 to compete in the 2023 Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships powered by Margaritaville.

Known as the “Biggest Pickleball Party in the World™” an electric atmosphere pulsates through East Naples Community Park—the largest permanent pickleball facility in the world with 64 courts, including the world-famous Zing Zang Championship Court. The event will once again attract a record 35,000+ spectators and, for the first time ever, players from all 50 states as well as 29 different countries, ranging in age from eight to 88. The record number of amateur players plus the 200 top professionals will play more than 5,000 matches for a US OPEN record prize purse of $125,000.

Pickleball players and fans who can’t make it to Naples for the week-long celebration can watch the men’s and women’s pro doubles finals live on CBS Sports Network on April 22 from 5-7 pm ET. The mixed doubles finals will be live-streamed on Pickleball Channel at 7 pm ET. The tournament will also be streamed daily on Pickleball Channel from April 15-22. Pickleball Channel is available on YouTube (youtube.com/user/PickleballChannel/videos), Facebook (facebook.com/pickleballchannel/live), and PickleballChannel.com (pickleballchannel.com/live-alt). To subscribe to Pickleball Channel for free, visit https://www.pickleballchannel.com/subscribe/

“The US OPEN isn't just another pickleball tournament. It’s an immersive pickleball experience as the energy, spirit of community, pure joy and fun are unlike any other pickleball event,” says Terri Graham, the event’s co-founder. “The party atmosphere begins on Saturday, April 15th with the JOOLA Party in the Park and continues through Saturday, April 22nd with special events daily, including our one-of-a-kind International Flag ceremony with participants from 29 countries from around the world. Every year we aim to deliver players and fans the time of their life.” 

A Record Number of Amateurs and the Top Professionals

Nearly 1,000 total gold, silver and bronze medals are up for grabs this year across more than 150 age and skill groups. The 200 top professionals competing are headlined by Simone Jardim, Parris Todd, Megan Fudge, Alix Truong, Kyle Yates, Hunter Johnson, Eden Lica and Rob Nunnery. Additionally, many former professional athletes from other sports and celebrities who have been bitten by the pickleball bug will also compete including; former MLB pitcher Kent Mercker, NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry, former professional tennis players Sam Querrey, Noah Rubin, Gigi Fernandez and JoAnne Russell as well as actor Hunter Sansone (DC’s Stargirl) and singer Anthony Nunziata.

A Format Fit for a Champion

The Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships has set the standard for competition format. It introduced the US OPEN format—which means despite being a double-elimination tournament, once you lose, the best you can do is claim a bronze medal—so a US Open Champion is always undefeated. This year, the two fastest growing divisions of play with more than a 30% increase are the wheelchair and junior divisions which reinforces the inclusivity of pickleball and the US OPEN.

The US OPEN also introduced the Triple Crown—awarding a bonus for the pro and senior pro player who wins pro singles, pro doubles and pro mixed doubles. Additionally, the innovative pro-split age doubles which pairs a pro (under age 50) and senior pro (over 50) has become a favorite among players and fans.

Hospitality for Players and Fans – US OPEN STYLE!

No matter if you are a professional, amateur, fan or sponsor, everyone is treated like royalty at the Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships. The Fan Zone, Player Village and a multitude of vendors are cued up and ready to serve every need, while the Zing Zang Championship Court serves up a level of excitement unmatched in the sport. Returning guests will notice 22 resurfaced courts as well as the new Welcome Center which debuted last year now includes a larger state-of-the-art jumbo video wall and a Fat Tire beer bar. The Skechers Pro Club Lounge will once again offer first-class hospitality for top pro players and invited guests.

Powerful Line-Up of Sponsors and Partners

The event is supported by more than 40 sponsors, partners, and official products, including Minto Communities, its title sponsor since 2016; presenting sponsor Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet-created brand; Skechers; and Florida’s Paradise Coast-Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades. New partners for 2023 include Takeya, Fat Tire, AGame, 1000 Stories Wine, Total Pickleball, JOOLA and more. For a complete list of sponsors,

visit https://usopenpickleballchampionship.com/sponsors.html

The event is an economic boom for Collier County resulting in an economic impact of $10.6 million in 2022. The US OPEN will once again benefit two charities: Kiwanis which services children by fighting hunger, improving literacy and offering guidance as well as St. Matthews House, “the main food concessionaire for the US OPEN” - a social enterprise of St. Matthews House, which works to fight homelessness, hunger, substance abuse and poverty in Southwest Florida.

The Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships is organized by Spirit Promotions, LLC, a company formed by Terri Graham and Chris Evon in 2015. Information on the Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships is available on the event’s website as well as social media platforms at www.usopenpickleball.com and on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram.