Serve & Return
Celebrating 75 Years of Impact across Minneapolis
Wednesday, May 13, through Saturday, May 16th
The Trustee Dinner, The S&R Mixers, ICT’s 75th Birthday Party and the Super Saturdays Season Finale.
A week-long celebration of InnerCity Tennis’ past, present, and future.
About
Serve & Return, InnerCity Tennis’ Annual Community Celebration, is growing in 2026 as we celebrate 75 years of transformational impact across Minneapolis. Featuring the Serve & Return Trustee Dinner, the Serve & Return Mixers, and ICT’s 75th Birthday Party, the event will unite all aspects of the ICT Community while remaining a pivotal fundraising moment that enables us to carry out our mission across Minneapolis.
*As a part of the Birthday Party on May 16, we’ll be hosting a special pop-up edition of our Super Saturdays program. This will feature free 1 hour youth tennis sessions and sports activities from 3–6 PM for kids ages 3–18. Pre-registration is encouraged.
Sponsor | Host
Sponsors are vital to Serve & Return’s success. They are recognized through facility signage, marketing communications and event announcements, receive four invitations to the Trustee Dinner, and enjoy other benefits.
Hosts are individuals who help us ensure the event’s success before it even starts. They receive four invitations to the Trustee Dinner and are recognized as members of our honorary ‘Host Committee.’
The Trustee Dinner | Wednesday Evening, May 13th | Travail Kitchen & Amusements
A fun, elevated night together for InnerCity Tennis’ most committed supporters. Do not anticipate assigned seats or a lengthy seated program. Do expect that you will feel connected, delighted, and inspired.
Reserve your Spot!
The Serve & Return Mixers | 11:30AM – 6PM, Saturday, May 16th | Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center
Five fun, community-building mixers on one day: Step Up (for newish players), Adults 3.0+, Adults 4.0+, Adults Age 50+, and Big & Little (for kids age 8-12 with an adult).
Sign-up for the Legacy Cup Tournament
ICT’s 75th Birthday Party | 3PM – 6PM, Saturday, May 16th | MLK Park / Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center
Both within our facility and in the park beyond, a birthday party for the incredible organization that brings us together. The party will feature special Super Saturday sessions for youth, partner booths, food and fun!
RSVP & Learn More
- 🎾 Special Pop-Up Super Saturday Sessions! 3:00–6:00 PM
Free youth tennis sessions for ages 3–18, featuring the high-energy sports stations our Super Saturdays program is known for. Pre-registration is encouraged as spots are limited. Register here.
Travail Kitchen & Amusements
4134 Hubbard Ave N, Robbinsdale, MN 55422
Travail Kitchen & Amusements is a celebrated, James Beard-recognized restaurant in Robbinsdale where a team of chef-owners blur the line between fine dining and theater, guiding guests through a tasting menu of inventive, seasonally inspired dishes — many prepared in front of you. Expect an evening of surprise, delight, and just a dash of chaos.
Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center
4005 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55409
InnerCity Tennis’ home base for the past quarter-century. The Legacy Cup will take place indoors while the Birthday Party will have both indoor and outdoor components.
A core Serve & Return 2026 fundraising driver will be a silent auction and fund-the-need, both of which will have an online community portion and an in-person-only element at the Trustee Dinner. In the weeks leading up to Serve & Return, the tennis center lobby will feature some of the items available to bid on and interactive displays to celebrate ICT’s 75th year.
If you have an item or experience that you would be willing to donate to the auction, please reach out to Associate Director John Bussey at john.bussey@innercitytennis.org.
The Serve & Return Honorary Host Committee is made up of our Hosts and one individual representative of each Sponsor. They are vital to the event’s success – both as the initiative’s first financial backers and secondly as, ahem, hosts to their guests at the event itself. They have no functional responsibilities.
InnerCity Tennis Annual Awards
Each year, we are proud to present the following awards to deserving players, coaches, and ICT community members. These awards are recognized at Serve & Return.
- The Skip Gage Memorial Award is given to an ICT youth participant who, like Skip, embodies InnerCity Tennis’s core values.
- The Nick Bollettieri Memorial Award is given to an ICT coach who, like Nick, has exceptional passion and talent for their craft.
- The Rick Evans Memorial Award is given to an ICT community member who, like Rick, exemplifies the value of service.
FAQs
Legacy Cup Tournament
Do I need a partner to sign up?
No. Those who do not have a partner will be matched with someone.
What is the cost to play?
$75 per player
Can I sign up both me and my partner?
Yes, you can sign up to two players when registering.
What age of players can participate?
Anyone in high school and with a NTRP rating of 3.0 or higher
What is the format of the tournament?
Round robin play, followed by semifinals and finals for each level.
What is the Step-Up Mixer?
The step up mixer offers an opportunity for all players to get on the court and play against other players in our community.
Who should sign up for the step up mixer?
Anyone who has participated in Step 1 or 2 lessons in the past is invited to play in the mixer!
Will the event be held if it rains?
Yes, the event will be held at InnerCity Tennis bubbles.
For the 50+ draw, do the players need to be mixed gender?
50+ teams can be teams of any gender.
Thank you Sponsors!
The 2026 InnerCity Tennis Serve & Return is
PRESENTED BY:
LEAD SPONSOR:
SMASH SPONSORS:
| 2026 HOST COMMITTEE: |
2026 DONORS & PARTNERS: Travail Kitchen & Amusements |