“ What you ’ re going to see a lot in 2024 is a fresh , new look on the overall brand appeal of USA Pickleball , services offered and putting a strong emphasis on all players , including amateur players ,” Moreno said . “ We are really going to treat our amateur players as rock stars .
“ Pros naturally get that ( treatment ), but ( we will ) also make our presence felt in the 99 percent — everybody throughout this pickleball ecosystem . We want to cement ourselves as the leader in this sport , as a Governing Body , and ensure that people look to us as that North Star when they think of pickleball .”
As part of USA Pickleball ’ s greater emphasis on players in 2024 , the organization announced a complete redesign of the Golden Ticket system of qualifying for the Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships . This redesign will not only specify which tournaments are designated as Golden Ticket events — the 11 tournaments that serve as the only guaranteed path for amateur players to reach Nationals — but will also provide increased clarity about exactly how players can qualify for Nationals .
Once they get to the events , participants should see an enhanced experience throughout the tournament as well .
“ I ’ m a big believer in making sure everybody has amazing touchpoints from the second they park to the second they leave our tournaments ,” Moreno said . “ I want people to feel like they have invested money with us , we ’ ve done right by their money , and they feel like they ’ re part of a system that is prestigious and elite . We want that sentiment across the board .”
One specific way USA Pickleball is improving its player experience is by offering a player pack or a gift pack for every tournament participant , items that will help further promote the brand .
“ It ’ s something they ( the players ) have never experienced before within any of our tournaments ,” Moreno noted . “ When you get into Nationals , you ’ re going to feel that a little bit more . We want to make sure people have commemorative items . We want to make sure these are keepsakes for them , something they ’ re going to be proud to wear , support and have around . It ’ s going to be a big deal . We want people to walk away feeling like they were a big deal and part of something amazing .”
These improvements and innovations for 2024 have mostly come from player feedback . Moreno ’ s top
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PHOTO BY BRUCE YEUNG ; IG : @ YEUNGPHOTOGRAPHY
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024 | MAGAZINE 49