Two professional pickleball tournaments coming to Utah this Summer

Pickleball's popularity is growing. Photo: USA Pickleball (Twitter)

UTAH – Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, and two pickleball tournaments featuring professional pickleballers are coming to Utah this Summer.

Major League Pickleball (MLP), officially known as Major League Pickleball by Margaritaville, is coming to Utah July 25-28 with over 18 matches scheduled. The Carvana PPA Tour will bring some of the best pickleball players to the Beehive State for a tournament August 21-25.

The MLP team-based professional pickleball league features nearly 100 players on 22 different teams with a co-ed format. The league was founded in 2021, and the event will be hosted at the Picklr in Kaysville.

MLP Salt Lake City is the league’s third regular season event of 2024, and will showcase 14 of the MLP’s 22 teams playing a total of 36 matches over four days as they compete for standings points and a spot in November’s MLP Playoffs.

The PPA Tour will be hosting the inaugural Picklr Utah Open at the Salt Palace. The PPA Tour was founded by Connor Pardoe in Salt Lake City in 2019. The Picklr, North America’s fastest-growing indoor pickleball franchise which is headquartered in Utah, has joined this tour stop as its title sponsor.

“Welcoming The Picklr Utah Open to Salt Lake City is an amazing moment for the Carvana PPA Tour and me, personally,” said Pardoe, founder and CEO of the Carvana PPA Tour.

“Salt Lake City is my home, the home of many pro and amateur pickleball players, and in many ways, the birthplace of professional pickleball. It is going to be a can’t-miss event for players of all levels wanting to compete and fans eager to watch the best pickleball pros in the world play in their own backyard.”

Confirmed participants at the PPA Tour in Salt Lake City include Utah-based athletes Callie Smith, Allyce Jones, Etta Wright, Tyler Loong, Spencer Smith, Alix Truong and Alli Smith.

Amateur competition kicks off on Aug. 21, and pro play begins on Aug. 22 at The Salt Palace. Thursday will feature pro men’s and women’s singles, Friday will include pro mixed doubles, and Saturday will have pro men’s and women’s doubles.

The championship will be held on Aug. 25, and will showcase the Gold Medal and Bronze Medal matches across all five disciplines.

“Partnering with the PPA to bring professional pickleball back to our home state of Utah has always been a dream for us. The Picklr Utah Open is not just a tournament, it’s a celebration of the vibrant and passionate pickleball community here in Utah,” said Jorge Barragan, CEO and founder of The Picklr.

On average, PPA Tour events host more than 1,000 pro and amateur players. This will be the first time the PPA Tour hosts an event in Salt Lake City.

More information and tickets for the MLP’s and the event in July can be found on their website.

Information and tickets for the PPA Tour’s August tournament can be located on the PPA Tour website.