Discmania Licenses European Open Branding to PDGA for Five-Year Agreement

The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) has reached a significant agreement with Discmania to license the European Open branding for their upcoming European Major. This five-year deal will see the PDGA utilizing one of the most iconic and storied names in disc golf history, solidifying its position as the premier event on the continent.

Doug Bjerkaas, PDGA Executive Director, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that using the European Open name was always their top choice. "The name has the richest history of all the various European majors that have been hosted over the years and is the name that has been used most often since the PDGA began awarding the Major designation to events in Europe," he explained.

When asked about the decision-making process, Bjerkaas revealed that there was a point where it seemed unlikely that the European Open option would be available. However, an arrangement was later offered that met both the PDGA Global and PDGA Europe requirements, making the choice to adopt the name for the Major straightforward.

The agreement will not affect the current hosting schedule for the European Open or Pro Worlds in 2029. Instead, PDGA Europe will continue to administer the event by reviewing bids from interested local organizing committees (LOCs).

Jussi Meresmaa, founder of the European Open, welcomed the partnership, emphasizing that the event's history has been rooted in Finland but now represents all of Europe. "We are excited to see the European Open be held in Estonia in 2026 and throughout Europe for years to come," he stated.

Matej Verl, PDGA Europe Tour Manager, expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, highlighting the prestige and history that comes with the European Open name. He also teased that the organization has exciting plans for the PDGA Europa Cup, hinting at future announcements.

Matthias Vutt, Head of Operations at the European Disc Golf Festival (EDGF), echoed Verl's sentiments, praising the partnership as a continuation of the European Open's legacy. The EDGF will feature the European Open and Presidents Cup as cornerstones of their 2026 festival, which promises to be an immersive experience with entertainment, concerts, great food, vendors, and much more.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/european-open-returns