Championship pickleball tour will put on an event at Black Desert Resort

Tom Haraldsen 
Salt Lake Business Journal 

Another professional championship tournament will be coming to the Black Desert Resort in Utah next year. The Ivins-based resort is building a 21-court pickleball complex and will host the Greater Zion Cup premiere pickleball tournament in 2026. The Championship Court will have seating for up to 1,000 spectators, and plans call for an additional eight courts. 

The championship is one of just five Cup events on the Carvana PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) Tour. It will draw top players and pickleball fans from around the world, according to Patrick Manning, managing partner of Black Desert Resort. Cup tournaments award 1,500 ranking points, compared to 1,000 points typically awarded to Open events. That helps players as they climb world rankings.

“Here at Black Desert, the pickleball courts are part of our broader mission to support the local community and economy by attracting visitors, creating jobs and driving regional tourism,” Manning said. “The Greater Zion Cup at Black Desert Resort will further enhance Southern Utah’s reputation as a premier destination for sports and recreation, benefiting local businesses and the surrounding community.”

The partnership underscores the resort’s commitment to bringing world-class events to the region and

positioning Black Desert Resort as a renowned destination for pickleball. The resort recently hosted its second PGA Tour event and will host an LPGA Tour event for the second time next spring. As one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports, Manning said, pickleball will have a new home in Southern Utah.

“We are thrilled to bring our signature area tournament to Black Desert Resort for the Greater Zion Cup,” said Connor Pardoe, founder and CEO of the Carvana PPA Tour. “In partnership with our friends at Black Desert Resort and Greater Zion, we are proud to showcase this celebrated event and the best pickleball players in the world to some of the country’s most passionate pickleball fans.”

Black Desert Resort recently completed its resort center. The resort features 447 rooms and suites spanning two distinct offerings — a Hotel and Resort Collection, seven food and beverage outlets, the 15,000-square-foot Plume Spa & Wellness, an infinity-edge pool with cabanas, an 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-designed championship golf course, a wide range of resort activities, and 45,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

“The Greater Zion Cup at Black Desert Resort puts our region on the global map for the sport of pickleball. The new pickleball facility will be a world-class venue in one of the most breathtaking settings, making it the ideal home for this event,” said Brittany McMichael, director of Greater Zion. “We are proud to be the title sponsor and look forward to welcoming athletes and fans from around the world in 2026 and sharing our region with them.”

Dates for the championship will be announced in the next few weeks.