The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) announced one of the largest pickleball events ever as a marquee event for its AARP Champions (ages 50 and over) and Masters (ages 60 and over) Divisions, which will have a minimum of 15 competitions in 2024 on the APP Tour.
The AARP U.S. Champions Cup is scheduled to take place Feb. 1-4 in Daytona Beach, Fla., and open to all skill levels, plus those playing at the pro level, in the AARP Champions and Masters Divisions. Additional age brackets for those ages 40 and over will be available. Player registration for the inaugural event is now live on PickleballBrackets.com.
“Pickleball has no age limit—whether you’re five years old or 55—the sport is always welcoming. We are proud to continue our support and advocacy for pickleball players of all ages and skill levels,” said APP Founder Ken Herrmann. “The AARP Champions and Masters Divisions are an important part of who we are as an organization, and we look forward to holding their premier pickleball event at one of the sport’s premier venues in Southeast Florida.”
Below is the list of APP events* that the AARP Champions and Masters Divisions will participate in throughout 2024:
- Jan. 17-21: APP Tour in Punta Gorda, Fla.
- March 6-10: APP Tour in Sacramento, Calif.
- March 20-24: APP Tour in Miami, Fla. (Major)
- April 3-7: APP Tour in Delray Beach, Fla.
- May 22-26: APP Tour in New York, N.Y. (Major)
- July 3-7: APP Tour in Southern Calif. (Major)
- Oct. 9-13: APP Tour in Dallas, Texas
- Nov. 6-10: APP Tour in Boca Raton, Fla.
- Dec. 11-15: APP Tour in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Major)
The 2024 AARP Champions Division will also include the following events:
- May 8-12: APP Tour in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Aug. 28-Sept. 1: APP Tour in Chicago, Ill.
- Oct. 23-27: APP Tour in Southern Calif.
The AARP U.S. Champions Cup is one of five inaugural APP Signature Events, featuring new formats designed to give professional and amateur players more opportunities to compete and earn prize money in 2024. Two additional events which will include the AARP Champions and AARP Masters Divisions are:
- APP U.S. Indoor Championships (TBD): an annual indoor event that travels to cities across the country
- APP Women’s Open (TBD): a showcase of pickleball’s top female professional and amateur players in an effort to elevate the women’s game
"At AARP, we embrace pickleball as a means to promote physical well-being and strengthen social connections for athletes of all ages,” said Barbara Shipley, AARP senior vice president of brand integration. “We are honored to be a part of the APP Tour and are especially proud to sponsor the Champions and Masters Divisions and the AARP U.S. Champions Cup.”
The 2024 AARP U.S. Champions Cup will take place at Pictona at Holly Hill, which boasts 49 dedicated pickleball courts with permanent lighting—13 of which are covered. It is also home to one of the premier Championship Courts in all of pickleball, featuring stadium seating for 1,200 plus box seats, suites and a press box.
AARP kicked off its sponsorship with the APP in 2023 as the title sponsor for the AARP Champions Division, the APP Tour’s official USA Pickleball-sanctioned division for professionals ages 50 and over, and the AARP Masters Division, the official tour for professionals ages 60 and over.
* All event dates and locations are subject to change. Visit theapp.global for the most up-to-date schedule.
