As professional pickleball continues its rapid growth, so do the opportunities for players and fans to be part of the action.
The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Tour has announced plans to double its event schedule for 2025, offering even more chances to compete and enjoy the sport at the highest levels.
Founder and Head of International & Player Development at Association of Pickleball Professionals, Ken Herrmann, said:
“The APP has enjoyed a strong 2024, positioning us perfectly for even more significant growth in 2025. The experiences the APP provides for pickleball players, across all ages and all abilities, sets the standard in pickleball worldwide. We remain committed to delivering the absolute best experience for all players and paving the way for America’s future pickleball stars. As we continue to grow, we are leading the world in the sport’s development.”
About the APP Tour 2025 Events
There will be 14 nationally televised APP Tour events with increased prize purses. These will include four APP Tour Majors, eight USA Pickleball “Golden Ticket” tournaments, the APP Women’s Open presented by The James, and the APP U.S. Collegiate Championships.
The APP Tour plans to launch more than 20 new competitions, serving tens of thousands of pickleball players at the pro and amateur levels across the United States. These include the return of the AARP Champions Cup and the APP Atlantic Cup.
This comes out to about 50 APP Tour events in 2025.
Other APP Tour Initiatives
Besides announcing the events, the APP Tour also said it will expand its linear broadcast schedule (cable and satellite TV) in 2025 to more than 55 hours, giving APP Tour pros increased national exposure.
“We’re thrilled to provide more fans with access to pickleball’s biggest moments, helping elevate the sport to new heights,” said APP Chief Marketing Officer Tom Webb. “Expanding our linear TV coverage in 2025 is not only a testament to pickleball’s growing national appeal but also crucial in giving our pro players the platform they deserve while driving the sport’s continued growth across the country.”
APP Next Gen is also expanding
The APP Tour is expanding its player development program, APP Next Gen, and will host four APP Next Gen events and four APP Next Gen II events in 2025.
This player development expansion will also coincide with the APP Academy, which will launch in January 2025. The APP Academy will be housed at The Fort, the APP’s global headquarters, and will provide a similar academy experience to other racquet sports academies worldwide.
International Expansion
The APP Tour's international expansion in 2025 is on the horizon. The APP’s 2025 initiatives will support several international events, the full slate of which will be announced later.
Tom also had this to say on his LinkedIn page following the announcement:
If you're a pro pickleball fan, you gotta love it.
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