Drew Brees to launch inaugural Pickleball Fest in New Orleans

Drew Brees, AP Photo FILE - NBC Sports commentator and former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees speaks from the field before an NFL football game between the Saints and the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, in New Orleans. Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski announced Brees would return to the campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, as an assistant coach to help the Boilermakers prepare for their Jan. 2 Citrus Bowl game against No. 17 LSU. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, File) (Tyler Kaufman/AP)

By Shan Bailey

NEW ORLEANS (NOLA WEEKEND) - Drew and Brittany Bress announced the launch of the inaugural NOLA Pickleball Fest at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center from Aug. 10 to Aug. 13.

The annual event will operate as a “unique, festival-style pickleball tournament” benefitting the Brees Dream Foundation, a release said.

“Brittany and I could not be more excited to bring the first annual NOLA Pickleball Fest to New Orleans,” Drew Brees said. Combining one of the fastest growing and most enjoyable sports alongside a city that knows how to host a party will make this one of the premier events of the summer. It will be great food, music, events, and plenty of pickleball all inside the Convention Center, as we crown amateur champions and raise proceeds for the Brees Dream Foundation that will go towards our ongoing efforts in New Orleans.”

The NOLA Pickleball Fest will feature 24 tournament-quality PickleRoll courts, live music, a celebrity exhibition match featuring Drew Brees and VIP experiences. Tournaments will include three divisions of round-robin play: women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles for skill levels 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0+.

Featured matches will be played on a center court with grandstand seating as well as Kern Studio Mardi Gras floats for VIP viewing.

“As pickleball participation continues to skyrocket, we’re honored and excited to be working with Drew and his team to create an annual pickleball festival that creates tourism for a higher purpose,” said Jay Cicero, president/CEO of the Sports Foundation.

Registration for the tournament begins in early June. To sign up or for more information, visit www.drewbrees.com. To volunteer, visit www.gnosports.com/volunteer.

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Shan Bailey

Shan Bailey

Shan Bailey is the digital content producer and on-air personality for FOX 8 Nola Weekend. Shan is a creative storyteller who is passionate about creating compelling content that connects with audiences.