Rise of the Beer City Open: What began as a spark of inspiration has transformed into one of the pickleball’s premier events, thanks to the vision and drive of Andrea Koop and Paul Richards. The Beer City Open (BCO) in Grand Rapids has become a showcase of the sport’s rapid rise, reflecting both the competitive spirit and community enthusiasm that fueled its inception.
A New Challenge for Andrea Koop
Andrea Koop, a West Michigan native, has always had a racquet in hand. From her early days on the tennis courts to her championship tenure at UCLA, her athletic prowess was clear. However, it was in the realm of pickleball, a sport she first encountered in 2017, where she found a new challenge.
I played my first pickleball in 2017, so I had not really picked up a racket-type anything in a few years,” said Koop. “I had 50 year olds kicking my butt and that got my competitive juices going. I can’t lose to somebody that looks like my mom!”
From Spark to Major Event
The competitive fire that Koop reignited soon spread to her plans for pickleball in West Michigan. Within a year of her first game, Koop, alongside co-founder Paul Richards, began laying the groundwork for the Beer City Open. What started as a modest idea quickly grew into a major event, with the inaugural tournament held in 2018 at Belknap Park.
“I said, ‘Okay, let’s give it a try.’ I had no idea it would turn into this,” said Richards, BCO’s co-founder and tournament director. “It’s a great event for the community. The volunteers get to see the best pickleballers in the world here, and hopefully it’ll continue to grow.”
Ambitious Goals for the Future
Koop’s ambition for the Beer City Open is as high as her tennis serves once was. She envisions the tournament solidifying its place among the top pickleball events globally. “We want to continue to be a Top 5 event in the pickleball world, and for that we gotta keep putting on a great event every year,” said Koop. “We take great pride in that, in our local community and making Belknap Park the best place to play in West Michigan.”
As the Beer City Open continues to gain traction, the vision of its founders is becoming a reality. From a spark of competitive fire to an internationally recognized tournament, the Beer City Open stands as a statement to what passion and perseverance can achieve in the world of sports.
News in Brief: Rise of the Beer City Open
Andrea Koop and Paul Richards’ vision transformed the Beer City Open (BCO) into a premier pickleball event in Grand Rapids. Starting in 2018, the BCO showcased the sport’s growth and competitive spirit. Koop, a former tennis champion turned pickleball enthusiast, and Richards, the tournament director, quickly expanded the event from a small idea to a major attraction. Koop’s goal is to elevate the BCO to one of the top five pickleball tournaments globally, emphasizing exceptional events and community pride. The BCO, now recognized internationally, reflects the founders’ dedication and the sport’s rapid rise.
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