Later this week from March 6th-8th, the 2026 River City Classic pickleball tournament will be held at the Merchant Centre Court. Local group, River City Pickleball Club (RCPC), puts on the Classic as one of their two yearly tournaments with both a spring and fall edition. Last year’s River City Classic welcomed over 350 pickleball players representing 7 states with international competitors involved as well. RCPC was founded in 2019 and proudly calls Owensboro home.
The group brings together players of all skill levels from beginners picking up a paddle for the first time all the way to seasoned professionals. Their goal is to create a welcoming, energetic, and inclusive pickleball community.
“We are beyond excited to invite several hundred competitors from Owensboro, the rest of Kentucky, and several surrounding states to compete in the River City Classic in March at Merchant Centre Court.” Vice President of RCPC Bretnea Harvey said. “Our fall and spring events always showcase some of the best talent in our region as well as invite people to check out all our city has to offer, from new hotels, a beautiful riverfront, to some of the best local restaurants you can find. We hope people will see this as an opportunity to come experience what competitive Pickleball looks like.”
As the club continues to grow, RCPC is actively expanding its membership as the group partners with the Owensboro Parks Department, the City of Owensboro, Visit Owensboro, and local donors ahead of the opening of the future pickleball facility at Ben Hawes City Park. This exciting development will provide a dedicated space for member and non-member players to gather, compete, and connect for years to come.
Competition for the 2026 River City Classic will span across three days, beginning with a senior competition day on Friday, March 6th. Men’s and women’s doubles skills 3.0-5.0 will take place on Saturday, with Mixed Doubles 3.0-5.0 to follow on Sunday. All competition begins at 8 AM each day. RCPC always encourages all guests and visitors to join them on the courts as they love introducing new players to the nation’s fastest-growing sport.
