MILWAUKEE COUNTY PARKS
CHRIS ABELE, MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
JOHN DARGLE, JR., DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURE

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Jeff Baudry
(414) 257-4575
Jeffrey.Baudry@milwaukeecountywi.gov

Nation’s Top Table Tennis Players to Compete at Sports Complex
2015 Butterfly Badger Open

Milwaukee, WI (Sept. 9, 2015) – One of the largest table tennis tournaments in the country is coming to Franklin. The 2015 Butterfly Badger Open will draw about 250 top players—including a team from Indonesia—to the Milwaukee County Sports Complex, where they will compete for a $10,000 prize purse from Sept. 18-20. The Sports Complex is located at 6000 W. Ryan Road.

Spectators will see top players compete in about 25 events during the 4-star tournament. The tournament is the final stop on the Midwest Circuit and part of the Butterfly North American Tour. Play begins Friday at 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m.

Friday’s events are composed of pro practice and events outside of the tournament, including events for recreational players. Individual ping pong players who are not rated may play in the Recreational event. The Corporate Team event is designed for two or three rated or non-rated players who work for the same employer. Signup for either event is available at the door until 5:30 p.m. The 51-Point Handicap is a single-elimination event open to only rated players. That event begins at 7:30 p.m. There is no charge to spectators on Friday.

The best professional players will be seen competing in the Open Singles and Open Doubles on Saturday and the U-2500 on Sunday morning. According to the USA Table Tennis League, 1700-1800 is the rating of an average tournament player; 2000, an expert player; 2200, a master player; and 2350-2800, members of the USA National Team.

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Participation in the individual Recreational event is $20 per player; playing in the Corporate Team event is $45 per team. The spectator fee is $5 per person on Saturday and Sunday.

The Butterfly Badger Open is sponsored by the Milwaukee Table Tennis Club, the largest table tennis club in Wisconsin.

For more information on the event, visit the Badger Open website at www.badgeropen.com.

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