UTR Sports and Arizona Athletic Grounds Forge a Long-Term Strategic Partnership to Establish a Major Epicenter for Pickleball
18 Abril 2024 - 12:00PM
UTR Sports announces a strategic partnership with Arizona Athletic
Grounds (AAG), the USA’s premier sports and entertainment complex.
As part of the agreement, UTR Sports will become the official
technology partner for AAG and provide leadership for all of its
pickleball operations.
UTR Sports is the technology, software, and rating/rankings
partner for both USA Pickleball and the Association of Pickleball
Players (APP) for their tournaments, leagues, and recreational
activities. All pickleball play at AAG will be powered by the UTR
Pickleball (UTR-P) Rating and UTR Sports’ innovative software.
Arizona Athletic Grounds, based in Mesa, AZ, delivers an
unmatched experience with more than 40 pickleball courts, including
four with spectator stands, and a main stadium that seats 2,500.
UTR Sports will provide strategic and tactical oversight, including
best practice programming, management, and business development,
along with its world-renowned technology and software. UTR Sports
will further facilitate the development of AAG into a top
destination for pickleball and a marquee national home for events
for all players and professionals.
“UTR Sports is excited to partner with the Arizona Athletic
Grounds professional ownership group, and together, we will build
this incredible venue into a premier pickleball destination,” said
Mark Leschly, Chairman and CEO of UTR Sports.
Known for the ability to connect, engage, and grow racquet
sports communities, UTR Sports will collaborate with AAG to
establish a wide variety of experiences and programming at the
venue, including adult and junior tournaments, camps, leagues,
clinics, corporate events, elite and professional player
development, and recreational play.
“Partnering with UTR Sports furthers our mission of establishing
AAG as the USA’s premier sports and entertainment complex,” said
Mike Burke, President of Arizona Athletic Grounds.
“We look forward to growing AAG’s pickleball complex into a
national hub for premier events. Working with UTR Sports’
technology platform, we continue to make further investments into
best-in-class people and infrastructure.”
Arizona Athletic Grounds recently welcomed players of all ages
and levels for the USA Pickleball Golden Ticket event on April 3-7.
Players will return November 10-17, 2024, for the USA Pickleball
Nationals, one of the largest pickleball tournaments in the world.
Last year’s USA Pickleball Nationals hosted a record 3,500 players
in Dallas, TX.
UTR Sports continues to elevate and unify the sport with its
innovative technology and software, combined with collaborations
with leaders in the sport.
About UTR Sports
The mission of UTR Sports is to connect and grow the sports of
tennis and pickleball with accurate global ratings, innovative
events, and a global community centered around level-based play.
The UTR Sports Platform is anchored by our patented ratings
technology. UTR Sports provides the technology tools and solutions
relevant and valuable to players, coaches, and organizers. UTR
Sports is also the official ratings/ranking and technology partner
of USA Pickleball and the Association of Pickleball Players
(APP).
Launched in 2023, the UTR-P Rating provides the most accurate
measurement of a player’s current skill level based on match
results. Upon registration on the UTR Sports platform, players
without match data will receive a provisional rating from P1-P5
based on a completed questionnaire. Once match scores are posted,
the provisional rating converts to a numeric rating from 1-10.0.
Register for free and learn more about the UTR-P
Rating here.
About Arizona Athletic Grounds
AAG is one of the largest youth-oriented sports and
entertainment facilities in North America. The Mesa, Arizona
facility serves millions of visitors per year, providing athletic
and special events programming. The website www.azgrounds.com
/ @azgrounds are the new landing pages for information. For
additional information on rentals, sponsorship, or event
programming at AAG, please reach out to the AAG team at
info@azgrounds.com.
Ben Makarenko
UTR Sports
bmakarenko@universaltennis.com