[Parker614]

Does anyone know why the big USAPA Pickleball Tournament scheduled for April 18-21 here in The Villages has been cancelled? A letter was sent returning our check and just saying it had been cancelled. We had out of towners coming here to compete. Anyone know why it was cancelled?

[mokey]

It is important to understand there is an exorbitant amount of expense and costs for hosting such an event. As a governmental agency, we have requirements to assure the use of our funds is allocated in a manner that meets Florida Statues. Please keep in mind The Villages is the community where the event was going to be played, but The Village Community Development District Recreation Department is responsible for all aspects of the event. This is the reason for needing a minimum registration cap to assure we could host the event. We were assured this would not be a problem by everyone involved. We even extended the deadline and promoted the tournament in every venue we could to gather the registration numbers. Without the registration numbers and commitments we needed, we had to make the decision as stewards of amenity funds and cancel the event.


This is the response from the Rec Dept.

[Mudder]

There were also alot of hard feelings in and among the pickleball community here in The Villages. Our senior games were being lumped in with the tourney and that caused major confusion. The price for our senior games in conjunction with the tourney was higher than usual. Many Villagers who usually compete in our senior games were not entered due to all the confusion, they even were leaving out some divisons such as singles. The villages senior games will now go on as in the past in April. I'm sure there will be the usual large amount of participation. Besides not everyone was aware of that tourney, seems as tho mostly the "elite" players knew but not many others.

[foxmeadow]

For those who had visitors coming from out of town to play in the
USAPA National event, the dates for the senior games is exactly the
same. They can enter and play at nearly an equal level of play as would
the National tournament have provided. Although there are excellent
players all over the U.S., the greatest concentration is right in The Villages
and close surrounding communities.

[Parker614]

Thanks for all the info.

[jeffy]

I wont go into all the "politics" involved here but in the end a vocal minority was able to get this world class event cancelled........ somewhat.

The US doubles Pickleball championships at the Villages IS now cancelled. In it place will be our regular senior games.


However the two day exhibition and clinic featuring 7 of the best PB players in the world ( 5 seniors and 2 non seniors ) IS STILL going to be held.April 21 and 22. It will be sponsored by the newly forming "VILLAGES PICKLEBALL CLUB". The rec dept was worried about expenses. As a club we will be greatly reducing expenses ( only airfare will be paid for the 7 pros ) we will be housing them in our homes. We will be providing transportation for them in OUR cars. And we wont have bleachers.

THE INTIAL MEETING OF THIS NEW CLUB WILL BE at Lake Miona Rec center inside on Friday Feb 15th at 1:00. We truly hope that anyone that is interested in PB will attend and give their input as to the makeup and runnings of this new club. As a recognized private club we can do SO much more than what the rec dept would allow. Socials, play with the medalists, top events like the one mentioned here etc. We want to have events catered to everyone , not just a few .

The rec dept has already approved the club and has given us the new Bradenton Rec center courts for the April 21 and 22 world class exhibition tournament featuring the best in the world vs the two best local teams. There will also be a top ladies match to watch. Then on monday the 22 these top class players will give a clinic showing us all how they did the things they did in the previous day exhibition.

We wont have expensive bleachers so most of you will want to bring chairs. We plan on spreading the exhibition onto three courts with wide perimiter seating only two levels deep so everyone will have a good view.

At the Friday Feb 15th meeting at miona you will also be able to join the PB club for about $25 and get free entry into this one day event, or if you dont want to join the club, you will be able to purchase tickets to the two day event for $12 ( for BOTH days, not 12 each day).

Feel free to email me with any questions you may have. Hope to see you friday the 15th at miona.

Jeff.......JLSHANK@HOTMAIL.COM

[tzangrilli]

Thanks Jeff for setting the record straight and for all your (and your volunteers) hard work. The exhibition will be packed with fans!