Trailblazers Find Home Base at Arizona Athletic Grounds

Arizona Athletic Grounds (AAG) is set to be the official home base for the UPA Asia Pickleball Trailblazers Program. Located in Mesa, Arizona, AAG will host 12 athletes from across Asia for a three-month immersion program in the USA. 

As one of North America’s largest sports complexes, AAG spans across 280 acres with 41 dedicated pickleball courts and a state-of-the-art Sports Performance Center among its expansive facilities. AAG’s elite training environment will help support Asia’s next generation of professional pickleball players, as the program takes today’s talent and turns them into tomorrow’s stars.

This collaboration continues AAG’s ongoing commitment to the pickleball landscape. In February this year, AAG hosted the PPA Tour Mesa Cup, which attracted nearly 19,000 attendees and became one of the most successful events in the tour’s history. The venue is also set to host Major League Pickleball during the Trailblazers’ stay, with the Phoenix Classic scheduled for May 29 – June 1.

During their residency in Arizona, participants will receive personal mentorship from US professional players, expert coaches, and media training to develop both their pickleball skills and personal brands. With its state-of-the-art facilities and established pickleball standing, AAG offers the ideal training environment for the Trailblazers.

Program participants are set to touch down in the USA in April to begin their three-month journey. Upon completion, athletes will secure their place in the professional circuit through a 2025-2026 UPA Asia Touring Contract, and feature in all PPA Tour & MLP Asia events.