Dallas (October 19, 2023) – In conjunction with the 2023 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships powered by Invited and the PPA Tour, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Romo, Jason Kidd, Tyler Seguin and John Isner will participate in the “Celebrity Pickleball Showdown,” an exhibition on Championship Court at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, an inner-ring suburb of Dallas, on Tuesday, November 7 at 7:00 p.m. Nowitzki, Romo, Kidd, Seguin and Isner will be joined by some of pickleball’s top professionals for the match, which will kick off pro play at Nationals.
“We can’t wait to welcome the pickleball world to Dallas for the biggest-ever celebration of our wonderful sport to date. Dirk, Tony, Jason, Tyler and John were eager to be a part of the record-setting USA Pickleball National Championships at Brookhaven and experience the festivities for themselves, so they’re thrilled to hit the court and join the fun,” said Dave Fleming, a local Dallas senior pro and the official broadcast voice of the PPA Tour. “Championship Court will be buzzing to see these outstanding athletes go head-to-head in North Texas. We invite everyone to come out and enjoy this special event and the unique experience that Nationals will offer.”
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, Nowitzki played 21 seasons with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and won a title in 2011. A 14-time NBA All-Star, the power forward was named the League MVP in 2007. A four-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Romo enjoyed a 14-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys before entering the broadcast world where he currently serves as the lead color analyst for CBS Sports. A 10-time NBA All-Star, Kidd is the head coach of the Mavericks. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018, he spent eight of his 19 seasons as a player for Dallas, helping the Mavericks win a championship in 2011 alongside Nowitzki. A 14-year NHL veteran with over 900 games of experience, Seguin is a forward and alternate captain with the Dallas Stars. The six-time All-Star helped the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 2011. A 16-time singles champion on the ATP Tour, Isner reached a career-high ranking of No. 8 in the world and was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon in 2018.
Tickets for the Celebrity Pickleball Showdown are available now! Click here for more info.
Across a Guinness World Record attempt for Largest Pickleball match, dozens of musical acts including American Idol winner Phillip Phillps and local sensations Le Freak, beer gardens, music venues, culinary immersions, tasting rooms, interactive games, kid-friendly activities, customizable merchandise, premium viewing platforms and more, “Pickleball Boulevard” at Nationals will create the world’s biggest pickleball party and elevate the experience to heights never before seen in the sport. For a full schedule of events, click here.
Over 3,500 amateur and professional players will compete at Nationals on 65-plus courts for the biggest prize purse in event history, and more than 20,000 attendees are expected to take in the pickleball action and enjoy the festivities at Brookhaven, which underwent $5.3 million in transformative renovations and upgrades.
Individual tickets for Nationals, along with week-long passes, and tickets for pickleball clinics and select events on-site at Brookhaven are available now. Click here for purchase information. The event starts on Nov. 5 with clinics and other activities, while tournament competition will officially begin on Nov. 6.
PPA Tour Media Contact:
Jeff Watson, VP of Communications
j.watson@ppatour.com, 817-944-2298
About USA Pickleball
USA Pickleball is the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of pickleball in the United States. Its mission is to promote the development and growth of the sport while sanctioning events and providing annual members with premier tournaments, educational opportunities, player rankings, official rules and other exclusive benefits. USA Pickleball is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that is governed and operated by a Board of Directors and a national office staff, who provide the guidance and infrastructure for the continued expansion of the sport.