Pickleball is a fast game and some claim it is the fastest growing sport in America. A combination of badminton, ping pong and tennis, it is played on courts about half the size of a tennis court with a wooden paddle using polymer balls. Opponents are separated by a net at midcourt and the net is only slightly lower than the net on a tennis court. The points, games and sets advance quickly.
Its fans claim it is more social than tennis and can be played by young and old. While it may have a social side, there is also a competitive professional side. For professional pickleball players there are three national tournaments with good size purses and one of those three is held in Brigham City, Utah.
Brigham City is a quaint quiet town with picturesque old buildings and London Plane Sycamore trees lining the city’s main business district. And it is growing. Eight years ago the population was 17,000; today it is almost 20,000.
Brigham City is also fast becoming a destination for professional pickleball players from all over the US, and the city has two claims to fame when it comes to pickleball: ONE it is the site of one of the top venues for the sport –patterned after Wimbledon with a Center Court and seating for championships–and with sixteen other courts that are lighted and fenced. TWO: Brigham City owns pickleball’s “Tournament of Champions” with a purse now just over $100,000 and to date over 800 professional players from all over the US have registered to come to Brigham City to compete for a share of the winnings. Yes Brigham City OWNS the Pickleball “Tournament of Champions.”
UTAH POLITICAL UNDERGROUND went to Brigham City to interview Mayor Tyler Vincent and Kristy Wolford (Director of Community Activities and Services). On the way we drove Highway 89 from Ogden to Brigham City, a seemingly short 24.6 miles. Along the way we noticed shuttered fruit and vegetable stands along a section of road that was once known as “Fruit Way.” But there are still signs of the good old days. Tagge’s Family Fruit stand is large and open for business. As well, we stopped at Call’s Family Drive In for a Coke and Onion Rings and the car hops were gracious and efficient and decked out in the latest wear from Vans.
There is a sense of enthusiasm with Brigham City and the energy exudes from Mayor Vincent and Ms. Wolford.
Mayor Vincent told UPU about Brigham City and Kristy told us about how Brigham City ended up with the venue and the TofC. This video interview follows.
People make a difference. Would there be pickleball courts and would Brigham City own the TofC without Mayor Vincent and Kristy Wolford? We will never know, but UPU has seen lots of evidence these two make a critical difference for success as they move with boldness to find ways to serve their citizens.
