EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A brand-new pickleball series is set to debut next year, with Evansville selected as one of the 16 host locations (Wesselman Park features 16 pickleball courts) for the event.
The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) has announced that the PPA Challenger Series will be held from September 19 to 21, 2025, at Wesselman Park in Evansville. The PPA created this series to establish a clear pathway for emerging professionals to join the Carvana PPA Tour, while also offering players of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to elevate their game by competing alongside experienced professionals.
“We had a couple of local [pickleball] tournaments that were pretty well attended, so we just want to keep building on the momentum,” said Aaron King, sports sales lead for Explore Evansville. “I think it’ll be a great highlight for our region going forward in terms of sports tourism…this is certainly a part of our strategy to grow not only youth but pro and even amateur sports in our area.”
King shared with Inside INdiana Business that the city aims to leverage the tournament as a springboard for attracting more events to Evansville.
“We’re hoping this will be an opportunity for us to grow and look at some even bigger pickleball tournaments down the road, potentially some pro tournaments,” he said. “Having the PPA brand into our city, I think will really elevate and highlight our courts and our facility here. It’s a big win for our community.”
The tournament is anticipated to be the largest ever held at Wesselman Park. Sixteen pickleball courts were introduced earlier this year, with nearby tennis courts available for pickleball conversion.
Organizers, including the PPA and Explore Evansville, are actively planning the event to ensure it caters to both players and fans alike.
“We want to have things that entertain people also while they’re there, from food trucks to some entertainment to maybe some music. We want to do many things to make sure that this is a really fun and exciting tournament,” Kate Reibel, Explore Evansville’s director of marketing and development, said. “PPA comes with all their own tricks as well… it] is so fast-paced when you’re watching these games, and so that makes it fun for anybody, whether you know what’s going on in the game or you don’t.”
Explore Evansville anticipates 500 to 700 participants in the competition.
To learn more about the tournament or to register, visit the registration website.
