AUSTIN and DALLAS, TX., September 13, 2023 – Skilled pickleball organizations MLP by Margaritaville (MLP) and Carvana PPA Tour (PPA Tour) introduced an settlement to merge below a unified and definitive skilled pickleball holding firm. The consolidation of the 2 entities is backed by a $50M funding from SC Holdings, DC Pickleball Group proprietor Al Tylis, PPA Tour proprietor Tom Dundon, and a roster of present MLP workforce homeowners.
The brand new mixed group will present gamers, followers, and sponsors with the advantages of a streamlined schedule and single entity overseeing the 2 still-distinct manufacturers. The merger combines the main particular person and team-based skilled pickleball codecs right into a single dad or mum firm, equally supporting and selling each MLP and the PPA Tour. The brand new holding firm will present gamers and sponsors nice confidence and alternative in the way forward for skilled pickleball.
The PPA Tour is the standard, bracket-style tour format that determines the very best gamers on this planet and showcases particular person athletes and their distinctive journeys to achieve the highest.
MLP is the modern team-based, coed league format that brings thrilling fan-centric experiences and competitors all through the common season and championships.
“As skilled pickleball continues to quickly develop, we couldn’t be extra excited to supply each gamers and followers with the readability and consistency of a unified skilled pickleball group,” stated Main League Pickleball Founder Steve Kuhn. “This merger will broaden and enhance alternatives for present and future gamers, making a united expertise and a greater future taking part in skilled pickleball.”
“Over the previous few years, we now have seen ever-increasing curiosity from buyers, sponsors, followers and gamers who perceive the immense worth in the way forward for skilled pickleball,” stated PPA Tour proprietor Tom Dundon. “The holding firm unifying the PPA Tour and MLP will create a streamlined sport for followers and add extra significant alternatives for participant competitors, broadcasting rights and sponsorship all through the skilled pickleball calendar.”
Skilled pickleball followers will now be capable of watch each thrilling codecs and the very best gamers within the sport competing below one aggressive umbrella, with the brand new unified group boasting over 150 of the main skilled pickleball gamers and an in depth calendar of workforce and particular person occasions all year long.
The dad or mum firm’s board of administrators and workforce homeowners embody a formidable roster of enterprise leaders, main buyers {and professional} athletes. The brand new board of administrators will embody: Jason Stein from SC Holdings, Al Tylis, PPA Tour proprietor Tom Dundon, MLP founder Steve Kuhn, and former Goldman Sachs Accomplice Brian Levine.
