Visit Overland Park and the Association of Pickleball Players Announce Five-Year APP Tour Stop

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Visit Overland Park and the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) announced today a five-year partnership to make Overland Park a stop on the APP Tour starting in 2026. The APP Overland Park Open will be one of 12 stops on the national APP Tour, hosting events at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk beginning Sept. 16-20, 2026.

“The selection of Overland Park as a tour stop for the APP is another confirmation of Overland Park’s appeal as a place to visit and compete,” said Eric Olson, Vice President of Sports and Events for Visit Overland Park. “Hosting the APP Overland Park Open reflects Visit Overland Park’s commitment to attracting world-class sporting events that drive tourism and economic growth. We’re eager to showcase our facilities, hospitality and community spirit to thousands of athletes and visitors from across the country.”

The APP Tour is a series of professional pickleball tournaments showcasing the world’s best pickleball talent. Established in 2019 as the first professional tour, and officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball, the APP Tour includes singles, doubles and mixed play, alongside amateur brackets, clinics, and community events. Each tour stop blends elite competition with a festival-like atmosphere, drawing both dedicated fans and newcomers to the game.

“The APP is proud to set down roots in Overland Park in 2026, bringing three incredible world-class pickleball events to the city for all to enjoy," said Ryan McSpadden, APP Chief Revenue Officer. "Pickleball fans across the Midwest will see the world's best pro players at our APP Tour event, the sport's rising superstars at APP Next, and the nation's top college teams battle it out at our collegiate qualifier event. With plenty of action in store, we're pleased to have a terrific partnership with Visit OP to help make these events the best experience possible for both players and fans alike."

Overland Park, recently recognized as “The Nation’s Most Pickleball-Obsessed City,” is home to more than 80 pickleball courts across the community. Its location in the middle of the country, state-of-the-art sports venues, and diverse lodging and dining options are crucial to the success of APP tour events. Organizers anticipate the tournament will draw an estimated 200 professional athletes and roughly 1,000 amateur players from all over the United States, driving significant economic impact in Overland Park during the five days of the tournament.

"We're incredibly proud that AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk will serve as the home for the APP Overland Park Open over the next five years,” said Bart Lowen, Vice President of Development, Price Brothers. “The APP Tour's selection of our venue is further testament to how the STAR bond program successfully drives new-to-state economic activity by enabling the development of world-class facilities like ours. This partnership validates our commitment to building best-in-class venues that serve both our local community and attract visitors from across the country, delivering exactly the kind of economic impact and regional recognition the STAR bond program was designed to achieve."

Similar tournaments in Overland Park in previous years resulted in more than $1 million in direct economic impact, according to Destination International’s event impact calculator. That past success inspired two years of discussions with APP to pair its tour with Overland Park and Bluhawk’s purpose-built facilities, benefiting the entire region.

"We are thrilled to host the APP in Overland Park for the next five years,” said Curt Skoog, Mayor of Overland Park. “Hosting major sports events provides a positive economic impact to local businesses and provides another opportunity to strengthen Overland Park as a place to visit, live and work. This announcement is another example of Visit Overland Park’s continued success in securing Overland Park as a premier host of visitors and athletes."

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 Association of Pickleball Players

The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) provides opportunities for pickleball players of all ages and skill levels—professionals, amateurs and recreational—to compete in world-class pickleball events for the opportunity to win prize money and be featured on nationally televised broadcasts on CBS Sports and ESPN. Since its launch in 2019, the APP has operated the first and only pro and amateur pickleball tour fully and officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball. It also became the first pickleball organization ever to establish an official headquarters and training center with The Fort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The APP Tour’s 2025 schedule will feature the most robust pickleball showcase across pro and amateur competitions accompanied by youth development programs, grassroots charity initiatives and international partnerships to continue to grow the game. Schedules, recent news and additional information about the APP are available at theapp.global and on Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn.

For Partnership and sponsorship inquiries, please contact:

Bob Welch

Executive Director, The APP
573.239.1473
bwelch@theapp.global

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Visit Overland Park

Kevin Barry
kbarry@parriscommunications.com
201.388.5667

Association of Pickleball Players

Daniel Sagerman
dsagerman@theapp.global
847.800.8182