Tournament at Rhythm & Rally Awarded as a 2025 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism in Sports Destination Management

Macon, Georgia – Sports Destination Management, the leading publication for sports event planners and tournament directors, has announced its 2025 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism, and Southern Pickleballin partnership with Rhythm & Rally Sports & Events, has earned top honors.

The Southern Pickleball Championships presented by Publix, held January 3 through 5 at Rhythm & Rally, the world’s largest indoor pickleball facility, was recognized for delivering a remarkable economic boost to the region. The tournament generated $809,640 in direct economic impact and 1,332 room nights for Macon, driven by more than 1,200 players traveling from 21 states and two countries.

Hosted entirely indoors at Rhythm & Rally, the event showcased the power of large-scale pickleball tourism paired with Macon’s hospitality. The three-day championship highlighted the city’s revitalization, brought national attention to Middle Georgia, and further solidified Macon as a rising destination in America’s fastest-growing sport.

“We are incredibly proud to see this event recognized on a national stage,” said Ally Bowman, Marketing Manager for Rhythm & Rally. “Our community, our partners, and the unbelievable energy inside our facility helped create something special. This award celebrates not just pickleball, but Macon as a whole.”

Looking ahead, the momentum continues. The 2026 Southern Pickleball Championships are scheduled for later this month, December 31 through January 4, and have expanded to a five-day format to accommodate soaring registration numbers and continued demand. With record participation expected, the upcoming event is positioned to generate an even greater impact for Macon.

Rhythm & Rally Sports & Events: The world's largest indoor pickleball facility, located in Macon, GA, within the Macon Mall. The facility spans 166,000 square feet and features 32 climate-controlled courts, a pro shop, food & beverage options, locker rooms, and event space. It welcomes players of all skill levels. Rhythm & Rally is a member of the SF Network, the nation's largest and fastest-growing network of sports facilities, and is operated by the industry leader in outsourced operations, The Sports Facilities Companies.To learn more, visit rhythmandrally.com

Southern Pickleball: Currently operating tournaments and events out of 10 southeastern states, including Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia. Southern Pickleball is committed to making people happy and expanding pickleball opportunities in the southeast by providing reasonably priced and well-run events and supporting community pickleball clubs. southernpickleball.com

Visit Macon: The mission of Visit Macon is to unify and lead our community in marketing the Macon-Bibb County area as a superior visitor and meeting destination. Visit Macon promotes Macon, Georgia to travel writers, meeting planners, group tour operators, and leisure travelers in an effort to bring people and revenues into the community and area businesses. visitmacon.org

About Sports Destination Management: Sports Destination Management is written for the largest audience of sports event managers and tournament directors in the sports tourism market and maintains a focus on the important issues surrounding event location decisions and event management. With content from experts and thought leaders, SDM provides in-depth coverage of sports event planning and execution through incisive and relevant articles as well as insightful, real-world case studies showcasing best practices and successful event production. Sportsdestinations.com