The Beer City Open - One of the Best Events in Pickleball

The Beer City Open (BCO) is the best amateur pickleball tournament in the pickleball world, and it’s not close.

It is also hosting the Major League Pickleball (MLP) Mid-Season Tournament at the same time this year, for the second year in a row.

Initially, I had plans on being in Grand Rapids this week to cover the Beer City Open and the MLP Mid-Season Tournament, but life got in the way. I have had some serious FOMO this week.

History of the BCO

The BCO started in 2018, with pro Andrea Koop, convincing Grand Rapids local, Paul Richards, to start running a tournament. Back then, there were 400 participants, and $12,500 in prize money. This was HUGE in those days.

This was before any of the pro tours existed, and the BCO instantly became one of the best pro tour stops each year.

Richards is very well known in the area for putting on some of the best pickleball amateur tournaments in the country, but the BCO is its own beast. The entire operation is a year-round project for Richards and his staff.

The Beer City Open has maintained its credibility, so much so that Major League Pickleball has partnered with the event in both 2024 and 2025. From 2018 to 2023, the Beer City Open was one of the very few tournaments that was completely independently run, that most pro players attended and looked forward to.

2024 BCO medalists in the men's doubles 4.5 50-59 age group Photo Credit: Grand Rapids Pickleball Club

The tournament has grown to well over 1,000 players, and was sold out within minutes of posting registration for 2025. There was a lottery system, which ran from April 10th through April 13th for amateurs. Additionally, the prize money has continuously increased, to now being well over $100,000, in 2023.

In fact, the amateur play is some of the toughest in the country. The BCO only offers 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0 skill level brackets. No 2.5 or 3.0 brackets here! 

Charitable Cause

Another unique thing about the BCO is its charitable donations. The tournament has donated more than $150,000 to the Belknap Enhancement Fund, a 501(3)c charity. The fund helps make improvements to Belknap Park, which is the host site for the BCO. 

Pickleball players at Belknap Park Photo Credit: Grand Rapids Pickleball Club

The BCO donations have helped to enhance lighting throughout the facility, and even helped add six courts.

Why is Grand Rapids Known as Beer City?

In 2009, Charlie Papazian created the Beer City USA poll to measure “community spirit and support for beer businesses” when America was in a craft beer revolution. 

With over 40 craft breweries within the 30 miles of each other in the Grand Rapids area, it quickly shot up the charts in the poll.

Greyline Brewing Co., one of the 40+ breweries in the Grand Rapids area. Photo Credit: IG - @experiencegrandrapids

The 2012 Beer City USA poll labeled Grand Rapids as the top Beer City in the USA, and in 2013, Papazian retired the poll. So Grand Rapids can technically always claim the title of Beer City, since the poll ended with the city on top.

So why is the Beer City Open the best?

The tournament directors, volunteer coordinators, and volunteers are the best. 

It is a two pronged approach for Koop and Richards. Richards handles the vast majority of the logistics and amateur play, while Koop focuses on the pros.

Everything is thought of. 

Amateur divisions don’t overlap with others, so a player isn’t stuck at the park for 8+ hours like some tournaments. 

Koop makes sure hotel room blocks are taken care of for pro players and that the hotel is within walking distance of the park. 

In fact, Koop recently went on the PicklePod Podcast with Zane Navratil to talk more about the BCO, and ESPN actually covering the event this year:

Each day there are four or five food trucks, and you guessed it - beer vendors. However, spectators and players are allowed to bring in their own food and drinks.

In addition to Koop and Richards, Nichole Miller is the volunteer coordinator for the event. If you have ever been to a pickleball tournament, large or small, you know the volunteers are crucial. Miller has over 400 volunteers this year and without her logistical support, the tournament would not run nearly as smoothly.

Volunteer Coordinator Nichole Miller (L) with other BCO officials in 2023. Photo Credit: Miller's Facebook page

Other tournaments throughout the country are usually begging for volunteers and need more at the last minute because they didn't get enough initially. Not BCO. Volunteers come from near and far to be a part of this special tournament.

The BCO continues on throughout the week, ending on Sunday. You can watch the MLP Mid-Season Tournament broadcast live on pickleballtv and the pickleballtv app. However, if you are able to get to Belknap Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan this weekend, do everything in your power to make it happen. You won't regret it.