Racquetball championships coming to Springfield in summer 2026

A racquetball championship tournament that's been on hiatus in recent years is slated to bring players from around the world to the Queen City next summer, according to one of its organizers.

Jeff Collins, executive director for the US Open Racquetball Championships, said the event scheduled June 10-14, 2026, in Springfield is expected to attract about 500 global players to town from the likes of Europe, Japan and Latin America. Missouri State University and the Springfield Expo Center would serve as tournament venues.

"We're anticipating anywhere between $750,000 to $1 million as far as revenue for the economy here in Springfield," Collins said. "I think it's really great that we've got all of these international players coming in from across the world."

A Springfieldian, Collins is the founder and president of the Missouri Winter Games and co-founder of the Champions Committed to Kids nonprofit, and he said he's personally played in US Open events for racquetball. He's partnering with Cliff Swain, a professional racquetball veteran, and USA Racquetball on the Springfield tournament next year.

Collins said the US Open, which has not been held for the past few years, previously was hosted in Memphis, Tennessee, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Springfield event next year will include both professional and amateur play.

“We are thrilled that it will return in 2026. This tournament has always been a cornerstone of the sport, and we can't wait to welcome players and fans to experience the excitement firsthand," USA Racquetball President Stewart Solomon said in a news release.