US Open Pickleball Championship Press Conference - a $2 million economic impact

Pickleball Press Conference April 26th 2016


Collier County pickleball tourney worth millions
The tournament is expected to have a $2 million economic impact on the local economy. It will bring in 835 athletes and more than 3,000 fans. "It's on the higher end of most of our events. It's one of our larger events," said Jack Wert, Collier County's tourism director. With visitor numbers falling in January, February and March over the year, the pickleball tournament will deliver a welcome jolt. "This will definitely help our April numbers," Wert said. The pickleball championships rival Football University's first middle school national championship held in Naples, which grew the second year and will grow again following the organization's announcement Monday that the national title games would return to the area for two more years with twice as many teams. (Read More)