Route 66 PPA Challenger Kicks Off in Springfield: The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) is set to launch the inaugural season of its PPA Tour Challenger Series in Springfield, Illinois, on June 13, 2025. The highly anticipated event, known as the Route 66 PPA Challenger Powered by JOOLA, will take place at the Premier Pickleball Center, offering top-tier competition and an exciting opportunity for aspiring professional pickleball players.
The Route 66 PPA Challenger promises to be a thrilling event, bringing the PPA Tour’s brand of competitive pickleball to central Illinois. The tournament will show some of the best emerging talents from the region while giving players the chance to gain recognition and potentially qualify for the prestigious Carvana PPA Tour. The series, which spans over a dozen tour stops across the country in 2025, offers a unique path for amateur athletes to break into the professional pickleball scene.
The PPA Challenger Series – A Platform for Aspiring Professionals
The PPA Tour Challenger Series combines the passion and grassroots energy of amateur pickleball with the professional rigor of the PPA Tour. Designed to help players rise through the ranks, the series enables participants to earn points and opportunities for entry into higher-level competitions.
The series will also feature several rules to ensure fairness and competitiveness, including the restriction that pro players ranked in the top 20 of the PPA Tour at the time of entry are ineligible to compete.
The top 16 Challenger events played will contribute to a player’s ranking, and each Challenger event winner earns the chance to participate in a PPA Tour Open event. Connor Pardoe, Founder & CEO of the Carvana PPA Tour, expressed his excitement for the Challenger Series, stating,
“We have been excited to create more grassroots opportunities for amateur players as well as a structured pathway to the Carvana PPA Tour for aspiring professionals for a long time and we have done just that with the Challenger Series Powered by JOOLA. This new tour will not only elevate the level of play but also inspire and motivate amateurs to reach new heights in their pickleball journey while bringing the PPA Tour’s brand of electric pickleball action to new levels of intensity.” – (Connor Pardoe)
Premier Pickleball Center – A State-of-the-Art Venue
Located at 3400 Constitution Drive in Springfield, the Premier Pickleball Center boasts 10 indoor courts and 5 outdoor courts, equipped with some of the best lighting and playing surfaces in the sport.
This venue will provide the perfect location for a weekend of pickleball action, drawing between 300 and 700 players for each event in the Challenger Series. The Springfield community can expect an economic boost of over $240,000 due to the event, as players, fans, and their families visit the area.
Event Schedule and Ticketing Information
The Route 66 PPA Challenger will span three days, with a well-structured event schedule:
- Friday: Men’s and Women’s Singles
- Saturday: Gender Doubles
- Sunday: Mixed Doubles
Ticketing for the PPA Tour Challenger Series will be powered by TIXR. All pro and amateur participants will receive a grounds pass with their entry fee. In addition, $15 ground pass tickets will be available for friends, family, and fans.
News in Brief: Route 66 PPA Challenger Kicks Off in Springfield
The inaugural Route 66 PPA Challenger Powered by JOOLA will take place in Springfield, IL, on June 13, 2025, at the Premier Pickleball Center. The event is part of the PPA Tour Challenger Series, offering an opportunity for amateur players to advance to the Carvana PPA Tour.
With a venue featuring 10 indoor and 5 outdoor courts, Springfield is expected to see an economic impact of over $240,000. The event will span three days, with competitions in men’s and women’s singles, gender doubles, and mixed doubles. Amateur registration is open, and fans can purchase $15 ground passes.
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