KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Pickleball, America’s fastest-growing sport, is taking over Kansas City.
The inaugural PickleCon, a one-of-a-kind pickleball experience, will welcome players of all levels—from those who have never picked up a paddle to tournament pros.
The Triple Crown Sports event, slated for Aug. 8-11, will bring over 65 pickleball courts and over 100 vendors to the Kansas City Convention Center. The pickleball fun will continue throughout the destination with local tournaments, clinics, open play, panel discussions and more community activities.
With hundreds expected to attend, PickleCon is projected to bring $3.9 million to the Kansas City economy.
And there’s plenty more action for picklers in Kansas City.
The Kansas City Stingers now call the city home after the National Pickleball League expanded this year. Their first games in Kansas City are set for the same weekend as PickleCon in August.
For those who need to get in some practice first, there are over 100 public pickleball courts in the KC area.
North Kansas City-based Chicken N Pickle has become a local favorite since opening in 2017. Now boasting 10 locations across the country with Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce as investors.
SERV in Overland Park also features indoor and outdoor courts, plus five dining concepts, making it another premier pickleball spot.
But why is Kansas City so passionate about pickleball?
It’s easy to learn and popular in an open-play format, making it a social and accessible sport for all ages and skill levels.
Pickleball has grown an average of 223.5% over the last 3 years, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, and that certainly feels true in Kansas City.
About Visit KC
Headquartered in Downtown Kansas City, Visit KC is the chief hospitality sales and marketing organization for the region. With a mission of creating global passion for Kansas City, Visit KC collaborates with nearly 1,000 community partners to drive the marketing, sales and service of the destination’s convention and tourism industry—a sector that supports more than 41,000 local jobs. For more information about Kansas City, go to news.visitkc.com.
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