From January 9 to January 14, Rhythm and Rally will host more than 900 people from 24 states and two countries for the 2024 USA Pickleball Atlantic South Regional Tournament. According to organizers, players are signed up from as far away as Alaska and Alberta, Canada.
“This is a tournament that will expose players from all over the country to your amazing new facility, and I know they’ll be going home after several days here talking about how wonderful it and the community is,” says Bill Hess with USA Pickleball.
“We were booking tournaments before construction was complete, and that’s a testament to the team we put together to create a world-class facility and to market it, from the Urban Development Authority to Sports Facilities Companies to Visit Macon,” says Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller.
“This is going to be another fantastic showcase of not only our world-class venue, but of Macon’s vibrant pickleball community,” says Rhythm and Rally General Manager John Roberts. “We’ve hosted dozens of tournaments in Macon the past five years, but this is the first time we’ve welcomed the national governing body for an event. We couldn’t be more excited.”
“We are thrilled to see over 24 states represented among the registrations. As these players make their way to Macon, Georgia our hotels, restaurants and visitor services benefit from the economic impact.” says President & CEO of Visit Macon, Gary Wheat. “Based on the incoming visitor data we have received in advance of this event, we’re looking at $978,000 in economic impact. So, it is likely that we’re going to be just north of $1 million for this single tournament! We are excited to be able to draw in more events and continue this trajectory.”
This will be the second tournament hosted at Rhythm and Rally. The first was held in December and featured nearly 650 pickleballers from 11 states and Washington, DC. The facility opened for general play on January 1, 2024, and more than 400 people played that first day.
To get updates and more information and to sign up for membership, visit them at www.rhythmandrally.com. Membership levels are in the graphic below; for anyone not signing up for a membership, it costs only $5 for half a day of play. People can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Rhythm and Rally features 32 courts: 16 upstairs and 16 downstairs, with four pods of four courts on each level. The 150,000-square-foot pickleball facility offers climate-controlled courts, day-use lockers, showers, and a Pro Shop, all in a clean and fun playing environment.
About the Macon Mall Rejuvenation Project
Rhythm and Rally Sports and Events is located inside the former 1.1 million square foot Macon Mall, which opened in 1975 and is now undergoing a major rejuvenation project. In addition to Rhythm and Rally, there is a new 10,000+ person outdoor amphitheater being built, and government offices are already moving into new, more customer-friendly spaces, including the Board of Elections, Planning & Zoning, the Middle Georgia Regional Commission, library branch, Mayor’s Literacy Alliance, and more.
“We are actively working with businesses and organizations to focus their efforts and to work together on projects that will have years and decades of impact in this area of our county and ultimately the entire community,” says Mayor Miller.
About Sports Facilities Companies
The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) are the Nation’s leading resources for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. As a turn-key solution for community leaders and developers alike, SFC services span the gamut of sports and recreation needs from sports tourism and recreation master planning, program planning, and feasibility through professional facility management services. Our 40+ managed venues and 1500+ team members, represented by the SF Network, welcome more than 25 million guest visits and produce over $250 million in economic impact each year. To learn more, please visit SportsFacilities.com and theSFnetwork.com.