The US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples: What It Is and How to Experience It

Every spring, a public park in East Naples becomes the loudest address in pickleball. The US Open Pickleball Championships pull tens of thousands of spectators and thousands of players to a single campus off Thomasson Drive — and then, most weeks of the year, that same campus is open to anyone with a paddle. Here’s what the event is, how to go, and what it quietly says about Naples.

The US Open, by the numbers

The event has been held at East Naples Community Park since 2016, and at this point the two are inseparable. The park is home to the USOP National Pickleball Center at 3520 Thomasson Dr, Naples 34112 — the permanent address the tournament is built around.

The 2026 edition broke records: 55,000+ spectators and 3,750 players from all 50 states and 53 countries. For one week, a county park hosts a genuinely international field, and the roster runs from touring pros chasing prize money to club players in their first sanctioned bracket.

If you want to plan around it, the next official run is April 17–24, 2027. Put it on the calendar now — it lands in one of the busiest stretches of the Naples season, hotels and restaurants included, so book early.

One park, 65 courts

Here’s the part that surprises first-time visitors: the tournament isn’t staged on some temporary build-out. You’ll see the campus described as having 65 courts — and sometimes 59, depending on whether the six championship show courts are counted separately — all on the same grounds the public uses year-round.

That footprint didn’t exist a decade ago. In 2014, the “courts” here were a converted hockey rink and lines taped onto existing pavement. Membership at the center grew from about 700 in 2016 to roughly 4,000 by 2022. The infrastructure was built to meet real demand, not the other way around.

And it stays open. Outside tournament week, there’s daily public open play from 6am to 10pm on the same campus. You can, quite literally, play where the pros played.

The growth arc (why this isn’t a fluke)

The US Open’s own participation numbers, per Collier County records, tell the story better than any adjective:

• 2016: ~900 participants
• 2017: ~1,200
• 2018: ~2,000
• 2019: ~2,300
• 2020: ~2,600
• 2022: ~3,000

That’s a roughly threefold climb in six years, and it tracks with what the sport did nationally over the same stretch. Naples didn’t just catch the wave — it put down the court capacity, coaching, and organized play to keep hosting it, which is why the event keeps coming back to the same address instead of chasing a bigger city.

How to experience it as a fan

Attending is refreshingly low-friction. Historically it’s been free-to-modest to come watch — you can spend a morning courtside without paying a big-event ticket price. That said, ticketing, parking, and the daily order of play change year to year, so verify current details on the official US Open site before you go. Same goes for the exact 2027 schedule.

A few things I tell people heading over:

• Go on a weekday if you can. The finals weekend draws the biggest crowds; midweek you’ll get closer to the action and find easier parking.
• Walk the outer courts. The championship courts get the cameras, but the amateur and age-group brackets on the standard courts are where you’ll see players who look a lot like you.
• Plan for the heat. Much of the viewing is outdoors, and April in Naples runs warm — bring water, sunscreen, and a hat.
• Bring a paddle. Plenty of visiting players tack an open-play session onto the trip. If you’re new to the sport, here’s how to start; if you already play, this is my rundown of where to play the rest of the year.

Beyond the marquee week

The National Pickleball Center isn’t dark the other 51 weeks of the year. The campus hosts community and charity events throughout the calendar — for example, the annual Purrs & Paddles Pickleball Tournament benefiting For the Love of Cats. It’s a good reminder that this is a working public park with everyday play, not a stadium that wakes up once a spring. If you’re in town outside April, that daily open play is the easiest way to try the sport on the same courts. For what’s happening while you’re here, check the Naples events calendar.

A quick, honest word on the “healthy hobby” angle

People ask me whether all this pickleball is “good for you.” Fair question, careful answer. Research linking racquet and paddle sports to better health outcomes is associational — it describes patterns across groups, not a promise about any one person — and the often-cited Copenhagen City Heart Study measured tennis, not pickleball. The sport isn’t injury-free either; ankles, wrists, and Achilles tendons all take their share. Treat this as general lifestyle information, not medical advice, and talk to your own doctor before you ramp up.

What it says about Naples

As someone who sells homes here, I pay attention to what actually pulls people to a place. A county park that draws 55,000+ spectators and a 53-country field says something specific: Naples invested in courts, coaching, and organized play early, and that investment now shows up in daily life. It’s why so many local communities have built their own courts, and why “is there pickleball nearby?” has become a normal question on my buyer tours. And because these are public county courts, the amenity isn’t hostage to one HOA’s budget vote — it’s civic infrastructure that’s likely to stick around.

If you’re weighing a move and want the amenity to be real rather than a line on a brochure, I keep a running list of communities with their own courts. And if you’d like me to match those amenities to how you actually want to live — and to your budget — reach out. No pressure, just a straight read on your options.

Sources: Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships (official site); USOP National Pickleball Center / East Naples Community Park; Collier County Parks & Recreation. Court counts, hours, fees, ticketing, and event dates change — verify current details before you go, especially the 2027 schedule of play.