ESPN's SportsCenter to showcase MLP Mid-Season Tournament as part of summer tour

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Jun 17 2025

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ESPN's flagship show SportsCenter will be on-site at this year's Major League Pickleball Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The network announced Monday that the popular news and information program is traveling across the country this summer as part of its "50 States in 50 Days” tour, which will celebrate local sports stories and traditions across the country.

The Michigan stop will take place at the MLP Mid-Season Tournament, which is part of the Beer City Open at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids on July 8-13.

A feature will air during a 2 p.m. edition of SportsCenter on Thursday, July 10, with Christine Williamson as the anchor.

The feature will highlight the power of pickleball to unite sports fans across Michigan.

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Additional coverage will appear across ESPN platforms throughout the day, including other SportsCenter editions, the ESPN App and ESPN social media channels.

The "50 States in 50 Days" tour begins June 27, featuring a mix of live on-site shows and pre-produced stories from all 50 states in 50 consecutive days.

This summer marks the first time in 20 years that SportsCenter has embarked on a cross-country tour. ESPN last presented a “50 States in 50 Days” tour in 2005, when it was called "SportsCenter Across America."

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Other stops on the tour include UFC 317 in Las Vegas, the MLB Home Run Derby in Atlanta, The ESPYS in Los Angeles, WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis and the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

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