PPA Challenger Series Arrives in Grand Rapids, Mich., Sept. 18-20, Attracting Amateur and Pro Pickleballers to First PPA Event in Michigan
The 2026 Grand Rapids PPA Challenger takes place at the new pickleball courts at the Meijer Sports Complex - click here for tickets
Hundreds of amateur players registered to play alongside professionals
Media credentials available here
Grand Rapids, Mich. (Sept. 9, 2026) – The PPA Challenger Series’ Grand Rapids PPA Challengeris coming to the Meijer Sports Complex in Rockford, Mich., Sept. 18-20, where amateur players, aspiring professionals, and professional players will compete on the same courts to earn PPA points, medals, and money. The PPA Challenger also represents the Professional Pickleball Association’s first event in Michigan.
The Grand Rapids PPA Challenger invites everyone from seasoned players hoping to go pro, to newcomers who just picked up a paddle, to play the most exciting grassroots pickleball series in America. PPA Challenger Series events allow everyone to experience America’s fastest growing sport.
Fans and amateur players also can watch some of the top professionals competing for PPA points. Among the competitors in the pro division will be Major League Pickleball stars, Carvana PPA Tour medalists competing alongside those aspiring pros seeking to make their mark on the ranks of professional pickleball. In addition to the competitors in the pro division, hundreds of amateurs will compete in the tournament, many of whom are from Michigan – illustrating the zeal for high-level, competitive pickleball in the region.
“The pickleball scene in Michigan is incredibly passionate, making this tour stop one we’ve been excited about for a long time,” said Tanner Groff, Vice President of the PPA Challenger Series. “This is our first PPA Challenger in Michigan, and if the success of the iconic Beer City Open is any indication, we will see a passionate and lively crowd of fans and athletes at the Meijer Sports Complex this month.”
Hosted locally by the West Michigan Sports Commission with support from Rockford Pickleball Club, this event will be the first traveling tournament to use the recently opened pickleball courts at the Meijer Sports Complex.
“Grand Rapids is a hotbed for pickleball, evidenced by our sell-out local tournaments and premier venues,” said West Michigan Sports Commission President Mike Guswiler. “We’re the perfect location to host the first PPA Challenger Series in Michigan, and we can’t wait to show off our new courts to the broader pickleball community.”
Interviews with players and PPA executives, done remotely, on-site or in-studio, are available to schedule. To apply for a media credential, please click here. For anything else, please email Nathan Boschult. For more information about the event, including player registration and event updates, please click here.
The Grand Rapids PPA Challenger offers an unforgettable experience for all. Join pickleball fans from across the state as they come together at Meijer Sports Complex from Sept. 18-20, and witness the excitement, drama and unmatched passion of competitive pickleball.
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CLICK HERE FOR PRESS KIT (Credit: PPA Challenger Series)
About PPA Challenger Series:
Founded in 2025, the PPA Challenger Series is a grassroots tour designed to provide aspiring pickleball professionals a pathway to the PPA Tour, the pinnacle tour of global pickleball. The PPA Challenger Rankings award players points based on their results at PPA Challenger tournaments, and top finishers will earn their spot in the “PPA Challenger Showdown in Dallas,” where players will battle for a PPA Tour contract. With a deep commitment to fostering growth and development within the pickleball community, the PPA Challenger Series nurtures emerging talent, encourages participation, and ultimately elevates the sport at all levels. For more information, go to www.ppachallenger.com and follow us on social: Instagram, Twitter/X, YouTube, and Facebook.
About the West Michigan Sports Commission:
The non-profit West Michigan Sports Commission identifies, secures, and hosts youth and amateur sporting events to positively impact the economy and quality of life in West Michigan. Since its inception in 2007, the WMSC has booked 1,433 events attracting over 2.8 million athletes and visitors, generating over $822 million in total estimated economic impact. For more information, visit westmisports.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Media Contact(s):
Kim Skeltis (West Michigan Sports Commission PR contact)
