The 8th annual Minto US Open Pickleball Championships were held at the East Naples Community Park last month as the sport continues to gain popularity worldwide. The event, which in the eyes of many players has earned Naples the title of Pickleball Capital of the World, brought in more than 3,000 pickleball contestants from all 50 states and 29 countries. The event generated almost 40,000 individual visits to the venue in a week, an increase from last year’s number of just under 35,000.