Site MapLargest Indoor Pickleball Facility's 1st Tourney Is a Big Success
The Candy Cane Classic Brought Over 650 Participants to Macon, GA’s Rhythm & Rally Pickleball Courts
Macon’s new pickleball Mecca was put to good use over the weekend. The newly opened Rhythm & Rally Sports & Events, the largest indoor pickleball facility in the world, held its inaugural tournament on Saturday, December 16, and Sunday, December 17. The Candy Cane Classic, hosted by the Southern Pickleball Association (SPA) which runs pickleball tournaments throughout the southern U.S., attracted over 650 pickleball player-participants.
According to Paul Midkiff, co-founder of SPA, the tournament at the new facility attracted players from across the region and beyond. Registration closed early due to the high volume of registrations received for the event - evidence of the sport's popularity, as pickleball continues to dominate the media news cycle.
“Last time I looked, we had players coming in from over 12 different states,” Midkiff said in an interview with Macon’s WMAZ 13 News.
According to SPA, the event was Georgia’s largest pickleball tournament in the regional history of the sport.
A Boost to Macon’s Economy
The event’s impact wasn't limited to pickleball courts. According to Midkiff, the scale of the event was a boon to Macon’s economy as well.
“So after they go play pickleball, hopefully we’ll send them downtown to check out the Christmas lights to get something to eat,” Midkiff said. Christina Walker, General Manager of Macon’s Sleep Inn hotel, said that the opening of Rhythm & Rally will do wonders for local businesses. “It’s going to bring a lot more businesses, a lot more events,” Walker said told WMAZ 13. “It’s just going to help boost the economy that Macon so desperately needs.”
About Rhythm & Rally
Rhythm & Rally, which opened December 2023, is the largest indoor pickleball facility in the world. Located at the Macon Mall in central Georgia, the venue features 32 indoor pickleball courts across two stories. Each court in the 150,000-square foot building is climate-controlled; the facility also features an on-site pro shop where pickleballers can purchase equipment, clothing and other pickleball-related merchandise.
