The Pittsburgh Regional has long been scheduled on a competitively difficult week, directly overlapping with regionals in Dallas, Atlanta, and San Francisco. This competition with three top-tier events limits Pittsburgh’s ability to succeed. Despite Unit 142’s January 2024 request to move the event, the 2025 Regional was not rescheduled and drew just 345 tables.

District 5 is planning to move the 2026 Regional to a more advantageous date. The ACBL currently shows the Pittsburgh Regional running September 2-7. The September 14-20 timeframe has competition only from Rochester, MN and Missoula, MT.

The move to the DoubleTree in Washington brought positives — reduced costs, better ballroom lighting and temperature control — though bathroom capacity remains a concern.

As shown in the chart below, Pittsburgh underperformed compared to other regionals, including some in smaller metro areas.

The Unit 142 Board’s goals are:
• to recruit new bridge players,
• and offer great opportunities for current players to play at clubs and tournaments

Part of the Unit's plan is to:
• promote bridge to people who don’t yet play
• provide support and incentives for our teachers, supervised play games, and clubs to help students play at clubs and tournaments (Free Play for Students Program)
• offer a mentoring program for players with 0-10 MPs
• provide incentives for clubs to hold games, particularly if the game has a limited section and an open (or higher rated) section
• promote special events and tournaments on the Unit’s website, Facebook group, Instagram, and the Unit’s newsletter
• host a Regional which will attract a lot of players, including pro teams, host vibrant I/N events, and create marketing buzz about bridge

In keeping with the Unit’s goals, last January, Unit 142 requested the Pittsburgh Regional be moved to avoid competition with 3 of the country's best regionals, and requested operational and financial control of future Pittsburgh Regionals. The Unit's request to take operational and financial responsibility saw no progress between January and June. At the June Regional, a committee was formed. The Committee's failure to interact with Unit 142 and their recommendation against giving Unit 142 operational and financial responsibility for the 2026 Regional was not well received by a Unit 142 Board that hosting mediocre regionals will not facilitate the Unit’s goals to recruit and retain bridge players.

Below is a summary of some of the Unit 142’s goals for the Pittsburgh Regional to help marketing, recruiting, and retention efforts.

Steps Unit 142 is taking to create a pipeline of I/N players:

• Launched a Free Play for Students program providing incentives to transition students to club and tournament players
• Improving our mentoring program
• Integrating with ACBL Sapphire program to position teachers and the Unit to encourage tournament play
• Holding bridge parties for students

Steps Moving Forward:

• Form a Steering Committee to provide input about what makes a regional compelling for players of different experience levels and motivations.
• Hire a marketing firm, including a photographer/videographer to market the 2026 Regional, create PR events with newspapers, magazines, social media, radio, and TV.
• Work with Shannon Cappelletti on schedule, best practices, recruiting pro teams
• Network with Reanette Frobouck to recruit her pro team, and have her help recruiting other pro teams.
• Network with pros, and pro team sponsors regarding changes to future Pittsburgh Regionals, urging them to bring their teams
• Establish an I/N Committee to make our I/N schedule attractive and provide a bridge party atmosphere to I/N events
• Form a social committee to provide ample opportunities for bridge players to socialize. Have the hotel if we are not allowed to provide wine/beer. Provide opportunities to discuss hands with experts. Host a welcoming party featuring a band.
• Network to bring some of the young national champions and world champions to the Pittsburgh. Believe we can find local sponsors for an under 30 championship team with agreements to cooperate with marketing efforts.

Note that the above plans will be refined by the Tournament Coordinator and Steering Committee. Many of the expenditures will not be needed as the Regional grows and its reputation improves.

Unit 142 is not asking for District resources to grow the Pittsburgh Regional. The Unit is asking for the District’s authorization for financial and operational control of the Regional so the Unit’s resources can be invested to grow the Regional. Since the District sanctions regionals, the District will always have ultimate control. District Executive Committee members will be invited to join the Steering Committee. The Pittsburgh Regional Tournament Coordination will work with the District’s Tournament Coordinator to ensure the Regional meets the District’s goals.