Get Ready, KC! Professional Pickleball Association Debuts In America’s Heartland
Overland Park’s Elite Tennis and Wellness will play host to PPA Tour stars in August
SALT LAKE CITY, UT (July 19, 2023) - The Carvana Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) is bringing the sport’s top athletes to Kansas for the very first time when the Vulcan Kansas City Open is held at Elite Tennis and Wellness in Overland Park from August 24-27.
The “Golden Ticket” qualifier event guarantees those who win their division at the Vulcan Kansas City Open a confirmed spot in their respective bracket at the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships, presented by the PPA Tour, at Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas in November.
The Vulcan Kansas City Open is also the second of four events on this season’s PPA Tour World Championship Series schedule with exclusive daily streaming coverage on Prime Video running from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Series began with the Acrytech Atlanta Open where No. 1 ranked Anna Leigh Waters earned her fifth of eight triple crowns this season with victories in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
“The passion for pickleball in Overland Park is truly special and we’re thrilled to share the unique energy and excitement of our events with another incredible fan base hungry to see the best and brightest in the game,” said Connor Pardoe, CEO of the PPA Tour. “It is always a big moment when the PPA Tour makes an inaugural visit to a city and we are delighted that Elite Tennis and Wellness is graciously hosting us.”
Earlier this year, Overland Park was named the nation’s “Most Pickleball Obsessed City.” The city is also home to over 75 pickleball courts at more than 12 facilities, including Chicken N Pickle and SERV, providing ample opportunities for locals to enjoy the sport and develop their respective games. Chicken N Pickle, which has seven locations operating nationwide and eight under development, was established in North Kansas City in 2016.
KC and the surrounding area is also home to a group of notable PPA Tour pros. Yana Grechkina, who played college tennis at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, and Ben Newell, reside in Kansas City, while Lucy Kovalova, Matt Wright, Jay Devilliers and Patrick Smith live in Wichita. Dylan Frazier should have his fair share of supporters at Elite Tennis and Wellness as well. He hails from Columbia, MO and currently attends the University of Missouri.
“We identified the Carvana PPA Tour as a marquee event for Overland Park, offering the only professional tour stop in the Midwest for 2023,” said Eric Olson, Vice President of Sports Tourism and Events of Visit Overland Park. “As Visit Overland Park’s sports tourism strategy evolves, we will continually embrace the opportunity to bring a diverse mix of sports events to Overland Park, and there is no better example than the sport of pickleball. We look forward to hosting over 1,000 professional and amateur picklers, along with the many spectators who will experience all Overland Park has to offer.”
"We are so excited to showcase our facility and represent the Kansas City pickleball community with this event," said Mike Wolf, Owner of Elite Tennis and Wellness. "This provides an incredible opportunity for our community to compete with and watch the world's top players on the biggest stage and we are so thrilled to be part of it."
About Carvana PPA Tour
The Carvana PPA Tour is the professional tour of pickleball, organizing events and rankings for the top male and female pickleball players worldwide and awarding more than $5.5 million in annual prize money with equal play and pay. The Carvana PPA Tour is set to host 25 events in 2023 at world-class facilities like the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas, and the Darling Tennis Center and Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Inviting all to compete and "play where the pros play," the Carvana PPA Tour offers amateur divisions of play for every level, unparalleled experiences for fans and spectators, gorgeous venues, pro player meet-and-greets, food/beverages, live entertainment, VIP upgrades, giveaways and games, shopping, vendors, and more. Founded in 2018 and based in Salt Lake City, UT, the Carvana PPA Tour is operated by parent corporation, Pickleball.com. For more information, go to www.ppatour.com. See Pro Player Profiles and follow us on social: Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Visit Overland Park
Visit Overland Park serves as the official marketing organization for the city of Overland Park, Kansas. The organization is responsible for promoting the city as an attractive travel destination and enhancing its public image as a dynamic place to visit, live and work. The mission of Visit OP is to improve the quality of life for Overland Park residents through the economic and community benefits of tourism. For more information, experience VisitOP.com.
About Elite Tennis and Wellness
Elite Tennis and Wellness is a unique racquet sports and wellness facility nestled in the heart of Overland Park. The club features four designated indoor/outdoor pickleball courts and nine indoor/outdoor tennis courts. The pickleball facility features the Little Pickle Bar, shaded social areas, and surround sound speakers and televisions. Elite prides itself on having superior programming and instruction from select teams of highly-qualified tennis and pickleball professionals. The club is open year-round for programming of all levels, private and semi-private lessons, reserved and open court time, tournaments, and various special events.
Visit Overland Park Media Contact
Dean Davison 816-787-2886
Dean@DavisonStrategicComms.com
Professional Pickleball Association
Matt Cudzinowski 514-778-4227
Elite Tennis and Wellness
Susie Epp - Director of Marketing
512-969-8300
sepp@elitetennisandwellness.com
Ilan Lakritz - Director of Pickleball
940-218-5226