Grand Rapids hosted the Major League Pickleball midseason tournament at Belknap Park this week, with the championship match airing Sunday live on Fox Sports.
WATCH: Beer City Open puts Grand Rapids in the national pickleball spotlight
Beer City Open puts Grand Rapids in the national pickleball spotlight
Grand Rapids
Beer City Open brings pro pickleball to Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park
The Beer City Open drew more than 1,100 amateur players alongside the sport’s biggest professional names — and the event’s growth was on full display.Anna Bright, one of the top names in professional pickleball, took home the midseason tournament trophy with her team the St. Louis Shock. Fresh off the championship court, she described the atmosphere at Belknap Park.
“It’s insane. You know, it actually felt a bit like a circus even,” Bright said. “It’s so fun to be here, and it really felt kind of like a home environment for us. [It] felt so good to get it done and raise the trophy in front of so many people who were here all week in the hot sun.”…