MOLINE, ILLINOIS (December 10, 2024) — The Professional Pickleball Association is proud to bring the inaugural season of the PPA Tour Challenger Series Powered by JOOLA to the Quad Cities in August of 2025 for the Quad Cities PPA Challenger Powered by JOOLA. The electrifying tournament will be held at the Quad City Tennis Club in Moline, Illinois, and will provide a showcase of the very best that the Quad Cities area has to offer to players and visitors.
With a commitment to fostering growth and development within the pickleball community, the introduction of the PPA Tour Challenger Series aims to nurture emerging talent, encourage participation, and ultimately elevate the sport to new heights. Bringing together the power of the PPA Tour brand with the grassroots energy and passion of amateur pickleball players, the PPA Tour Challenger Series will create an avenue for players across America to break into professional pickleball and earn their way onto the Carvana PPA Tour. Spanning the country with over a dozen tour stops in 2025, the series will feature amateur and aspiring professional pickleball players battling for victory and chasing their dreams.
“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,” says Connor Pardoe, the Founder and CEO of the Carvana PPA Tour. “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.”
For further information about the PPA Challenger Series, please click here.
Located in Moline, Illinois, the Quad City Tennis Club is a premier facility for both tennis and pickleball, boasting a variety of indoor and outdoor court configurations to suit the needs of players of all skill levels. The club features:
- Six indoor hard-surface tennis courts that can be adapted for pickleball.
- Nine indoor pickleball courts designed for year-round play.
- Two outdoor tennis courts that can convert into four pickleball courts.
- Observation windows providing visibility to six courts and seating for up to 100 spectators.
- A large parking lot to accommodate players and visitors.
As part of a robust regional pickleball scene, the Quad Cities area offers 34 individually-fenced outdoor pickleball courts across multiple communities, along with several indoor options. Local venues in Davenport, Bettendorf, Eldridge, DeWitt, Muscatine (Iowa), and Moline, Rock Island, Coal Valley, Silvis, and Geneseo (Illinois) provide opportunities for both recreational and competitive play.
Nestled along the Mississippi River, the Quad Cities is a vibrant bi-state region with a deep passion for sports and a history of hosting exceptional events. Centrally located within a six-hour drive of 37 million people, the area is home to nearly 500,000 residents and offers world-class venues, diverse dining, and unique attractions.
Sports QC, powered by Visit Quad Cities, leads the region’s sports tourism efforts by recruiting and hosting events that drive economic growth and enhance the community. From amateur competitions to national tournaments, the Quad Cities is a welcoming and accessible destination for events of all sizes.
“The Quad Cities combines top-tier facilities, passionate community, and Midwestern hospitality to create unforgettable sports experiences,” said Joan Kranovich, Vice President of Business Growth and Director of Sports QC at Visit Quad Cities.
The PPA Challenger Series event is projected to generate approximately $1.2 million in revenue for the Quad Cities, with significant direct economic impact anticipated in the lodging, retail, and food and beverage sectors.
In addition to the competitive interest and appeal, each PPA Challenger event will have a $10,000 prize pool. Participants in the Quad Cities PPA Challenger are encouraged to continually stay tuned for the latest information as it becomes available. Player registration is currently LIVE. Please click here to register today!
The schedule for PPA Tour Challenger Series events will be Friday through Sunday, and professionals will run on the same schedule as amateurs.
- Friday — Men's and Women's Singles
- Saturday — Gender Doubles
- Sunday — Mixed Doubles
Ticketing for the Quad Cities PPA Challenger will be powered by TIXR. All pro and amateur players will receive a grounds pass with their fee to participate in the event. There will also be $15 grounds pass tickets for sale to friends, family and fans.
Championship Court action from the Quad Cities PPA Challenger will be streamed LIVE on the NEW Tennis Channel App.
For further event information, media credentialing, interviews with players and tour executives, or anything else under the sun, please email Nathan Boschult.
The Quad Cities PPA Tour Challenger Powered by JOOLA promises to be an exhilarating experience for amateur players, offering them an incredible opportunity to take their game to the next level alongside aspiring professionals seeking to join the ranks of the world’s preeminent pickleball tour. With its enthusiastic grassroots approach and commitment to growing the sport, the PPA Tour Challenger Series is set to make a lasting impact on the Quad Cities pickleball community.
About Carvana PPA Tour:
Founded in 2019, the Carvana PPA Tour is where pickleball’s top athletes go head-to-head to determine the best male and female players in the world. The Carvana PPA Tour organizes and conducts tournaments at world-class facilities across the country, establishes player rankings, and showcases the world’s best pickleball week in and week out. Inviting amateur players to also compete and “play where the pros play,” the Carvana PPA Tour offers divisions for every age, group, and skill level. Characterized by a uniquely festive and fun atmosphere, Carvana PPA Tour events deliver unparalleled experiences for fans on-site, including pro player meet-and-greets, clinics, food, beverages, live entertainment, giveaways, games, shopping, and VIP upgrades. For more information, go to ppatour.com/, and follow us on social: Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn.
About Visit Quad Cities:
Visit Quad Cities, established in 1990, is the region’s official destination marketing organization (DMO). Through tourism, Visit Quad Cities generates economic growth, fosters the visitor economy, and elevates the regional destination's global presence. An accredited DMO through Destinations International’s DMAP program, Visit Quad Cities promotes the regional brand, drives economic opportunities, invigorates visitor experience, and enhances the quality of life and place for all Quad Citizens. For information, visit visitquadcities.com.
