Vlasic Classic puts Cincinnati pickleball courts in national spotlight

The Vlasic Classic put Sawyer Point on a national stage as nearly 570 pickleball players filled Cincinnati’s riverfront courts from June 11-14, with matches starting at 8 a.m. and pro players chasing a $125,000 prize pool. Staged at Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove, the event carried extra weight for amateurs too, since USA Pickleball listed it as a Golden Ticket qualifier for the 2026 USAP National Championships.

That field mattered because Sawyer Point was not built for this overnight. The courts were once cracked and largely deserted, but the site grew in steps, first to four courts in 2019, then eight, then 12, before the 2022 renovation turned the complex into something far bigger than a neighborhood run. Cincinnati Parks and local coverage say that overhaul created 12 permanent pickleball courts and added overlay courts on the tennis side, along with better lighting, access, playing surfaces, ball barriers, benches, gates and office renovations.

The money behind the rebuild told the same story. Earlier reporting put the public investment at about $500,000, while private citizens donated another $80,000 to help finish the courts. That kind of backing matters in pickleball, where a strong local scene can move from informal play to a venue that actually draws touring events. Cincinnati Parks Foundation materials say the Cincinnati Park Board’s upgrades gave Sawyer Point the kind of infrastructure that could handle major tournament traffic.

Gary Lessis, president of Pickleball at Sawyer Point, was central to that climb. He noticed the tennis courts were underused, asked Cincinnati Parks management for permission to test a few nets, and started in May 2020 with 11 people. By 2022, local coverage said the group was averaging about 50 players a day and had passed 100 club members. That growth helped convince the Association of Pickleball Professionals to bring a tournament to Cincinnati’s Ohio River riverfront, where the site can scale up to 24 courts for special events.

The 2026 edition also reflected how broad pickleball’s draw has become. Visit Cincy said the event included top athletes, cash prizes, all skill levels and the AARP Champions Tour, while Kevin Dong, a Cincinnati native and APP Tour pro, helped give the weekend a recognizable face with his mix of highlight clips, bloopers and tactical tips. What had once been a cracked and quiet corner of the riverfront looked like a serious tournament asset, and Sawyer Point now has the courts and credibility to keep Cincinnati in the conversation for more weekend sports travel.