Micro Event
20-30 players · 3-4 hrs
Net est. $5K+
Tournament Program · For Nonprofits + Organizations
Raise more. Play more. Connect more.
A turn-key pickleball tournament program for nonprofits, professional associations, civic groups, and charities. You sell the sponsorships and fill the teams. We handle everything else — from check-in to the trophy ceremony.
- 3-6 hrs
- Half-Day Format
- Zero
- Experience Required
- 18
- Indoor Courts
- 120+
- Players Per Event
Built For
Nonprofits · Associations · Corporate Teams · Community Groups
Why This Format Works
The modern fundraiser, built for everyone.
The best fundraisers do more than raise money — they create real energy, real connections, and real reasons to come back next year. That is exactly what we designed this program to do.
| Dimension | Traditional Event | The Upper Court Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| Time Commitment | Full day — 5 to 7+ hours. Hard to attract busy professionals and younger donors. | 3-6 hours. Back by noon or done by dinner. Respects everyone's schedule. |
| Player Cost | $150-$300+ per person. Limits participation to a smaller, self-selected group. | $50-$125 per player depending on event size. Accessible for a much wider group. |
| Experience Required | Real barrier for non-players. Limits who participates and who you can invite. | Zero experience needed. Taught in 10 minutes. Everyone feels included immediately. |
| Who Participates | A subset of your network. Skews older, excludes mixed-age and mixed-skill groups. | Everyone plays. All skill levels, all ages. Social tickets for non-players too. |
| Sponsor Visibility | Scattered and hard to measure. Limited brand exposure per dollar spent. | Screens, courts, signage, and sponsor moments keep partners visible all event long. |
| Energy & Atmosphere | Quiet until the dinner hour. Long gaps between meaningful social moments. | Constant energy. Full bar. Catering. Music. One venue, everyone together. |
| Weather Dependence | Rain means reschedule — and all the logistics that come with it. | Climate-controlled indoor court access. Your format is protected from weather. |
| Young Professional Draw | Harder sell for the under-40 crowd. Participation trends older year over year. | The #1 fastest-growing sport in America. A natural draw for the under-40 crowd. |
Already run a successful annual event? Many of our best partners add this as a second event rather than replacing anything — a fresh format, a new audience, and a second round of sponsor revenue without cannibalizing what already works.
Right-Sized for Any Group
Five formats — pick the one that fits your network.
Whether you have 25 close partners or 150 across a chapter, we shape the day around what you actually have to work with. Every event is tailored from the start.
Small Event
30-50 players · 3-4 hrs
Net est. $9K+
Medium Event
50-80 players · 4-5 hrs
Net est. $18K+
Large Event
80-120 players · 5-6 hrs
Net est. $25K+
XL Event
120+ players · full court program
Net est. $35K+
Process
Four steps from start to trophy.
We have removed every friction point. You do not need event experience, a venue team, or a large committee. Here is exactly what happens after you reach out.
01
Consultation Call — 20 Minutes
We ask about your goal, your network, your timeline, and what success looks like. No forms, no RFPs, no lengthy process. Just a real conversation with The Upper Court events team.
02
Tailored Game Plan — 24 Hours
We map four scenarios — floor to goal — built around your network and timeline, with a sponsor menu suited to your industry. You see what is realistic before committing to anything.
03
Lock the Date & Start Selling
A deposit secures your date. We deliver your sponsor pitch deck and sales playbook within 5 business days so your team can hit the ground running with the right tools already in hand.
04
We Run the Entire Event
Courts, referees, scoring, screens, food service, bar, skills challenges, awards — fully staffed by The Upper Court. You show up, connect with your people, and collect at the end of the day.
The Venue
A venue built for active fundraising.
The Upper Court is not a gymnasium with a net strung across the floor. It is a full event environment with indoor court access, a full bar, catering support, screens, and sponsor moments that keep partners visible.
Indoor Court Access
Climate-controlled court access keeps the event active and weather-proof, with formats that can scale for mixed-skill groups.
Catering + Kitchen Soon
Catering partners support events now, and the in-house kitchen is launching soon. The goal is hospitality that feels like part of the event.
Full Bar
Craft cocktails, curated beer, full bar service from the moment doors open. Sponsor a bar cart for dedicated brand placement.
Screens + Sponsor Moments
Flat-screen TVs, signage, and planned sponsor moments keep your partners visible throughout the event.
Skills Challenges
Dink-Off, Fire Fight, Fastest Serve, and Third Shot Drop keep energy high between rounds. Crowd-favorite Dink-Off raises extra dollars at $10 per try, and challenge-zone naming is a sellable sponsor tier.
Beyond the Courts
Additional games and activations are being added so non-players and social guests stay engaged from first hour to last.
Sponsorship Menu
A way in for every company in your network.
Tiered options give every partner a meaningful place to land — from anchor firms to neighborhood vendors. Sizing scales to your event so every tier feels reachable.
Title Sponsors
Platinum to Bronze tier options with naming rights, player teams included, screen visibility, court signage, verbal recognition, VIP table with food and beverage, and premier placement in post-event recap content.
Typical range $1,000-$7,000
Experience Sponsors
Coffee bar, bar cart, alcohol, food station, paddle, valet, energy and hydration, prize sponsorships. Branded placement at point-of-experience with logos on relevant items. 2-4 team entries per package. Perfect entry point for local businesses.
Typical range $250-$3,000
Court Sponsors
Dedicated signage on your named, assigned court — visible to players and spectators all day long. Great fit for architects, engineers, contractors. Simple, tangible, and easy for your team to sell.
Typical range $200-$500/court
Challenge Zone
Dink-Off Challenge ($10/person crowd favorite), Fire Fight, Fastest Serve, Third Shot Drop. Free play between rounds keeps energy high. Challenge Zone naming sponsorship available for a single-page brand activation.
Typical range $10-$1,500
Sizing scales to your event. Your tailored plan includes a sponsor menu suited to your organization and industry.
Frequently Asked
Questions we always hear.
Quick answers on experience, weather, sponsor tools, minimums, and turnaround time.
Start an InquiryDoes anyone need pickleball experience?+
Not at all. Our format is built for beginners. The vast majority of our groups have little or no experience. We teach the basics in under 10 minutes and keep it genuinely fun for everyone — first-timers and competitive players alike.
What if it rains?+
Climate-controlled indoor court access keeps the format protected from weather. We coordinate the right court assignments for your group before event day.
Can this work alongside an event we already run?+
Absolutely — and many of our best partners do exactly that. A different season, a different audience, a fresh sponsor conversation. A second event creates a second revenue stream without cannibalizing what already works.
How much work does our team have to do?+
Your team sells sponsorships and fills player teams. The Upper Court runs everything else — courts, referees, food, bar service, scoring, screens, skills challenges, and awards. Show up, connect with your community, and collect.
What is the minimum we need to guarantee?+
There is a venue minimum we share in the first conversation. We shape the plan around it so you know what to aim for — no surprises, nothing to commit to until you are ready.
How fast can we get a proposal?+
Reach out today and we will share a ballpark within hours. After a 20-minute call, your full plan with four scenarios arrives within 24 hours. Sponsor pitch deck follows within 5 business days of signing.
Your best event yet is one call away
Schedule a free 20-minute consultation.
No commitment. No pressure. We listen, sketch the day, and tell you honestly what your event could look like. Same-day response.