Professional Pickleball Association

What Professional Pickleball Association does

The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) is the premier professional pickleball league in the United States, operating 25+ annual tournament stops domestically and internationally under parent company Pickleball Inc. (headquartered in Dallas, TX). Founded in 2020, the organization serves elite professional players (including world #1s Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters), amateur competitors of all skill levels, youth players aged 8-18 through Junior PPA, and senior players aged 50+ through the Humana Senior Open. The 2024 merger with Major League Pickleball (MLP) under the United Pickleball Association (UPA) umbrella, led by CEO Connor Pardoe, unified the professional pickleball competitive ecosystem.

The PPA Tour's core product is a tiered tournament circuit ranging from Challenger events (125 points) to the Pickleball World Championships (3,000 points), with a proprietary PPA Rankings System using 52-week rolling methodology. The digital platform includes PickleballTV (a subscription streaming service at $5.99/month or $59.99/year offering 3,000+ live hours with multi-court viewing up to 6 courts simultaneously), the MATCHDAY mobile app, and the PARTNERS docuseries. Distribution is amplified through broadcast partnerships with ESPN, Tennis Channel, CBS, ABC, Fox, and Prime Video.

Revenue is generated across four primary streams: (1) tournament operations and entry fees, with $5,235,943 in combined prize money and appearance fees across the 2026 season; (2) PickleballTV subscription revenue; (3) a multi-tiered sponsorship program with title sponsor Carvana plus category sponsors including Humana, JOOLA, Veolia, Abbott/Ensure, Zimmer Biomet, and Rate; and (4) camps ($370-$900) and premium hospitality packages. The company received a landmark $225 million investment from Apollo Sports Capital and Tom Dundon's family office in June 2026, supporting continued international expansion into markets including Spain, Japan, Australia, Vietnam, and across Europe and Asia.

Name

Professional Pickleball Association

Legal name

Pickleball Inc.

Website

https://ppatour.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Professional Pickleball Association operates the premier professional pickleball tour with 25+ annual tournaments across the US and 25+ countries, serving elite professionals, amateurs, juniors, and seniors through a unified competitive ecosystem with streaming, sponsorships, and youth development programs under Pickleball Inc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Sports League

NAICS

Spectator Sports (7112), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

akta.pro primary industry

Combat Sports Pay-Per-View (PPV) & Premium Fight Event Promoters (MPAKAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pay-Per-View (PPV) & Premium Sports Event Networks (MPABAJAF), Pickleball Equipment & Accessories Retail (CRAMAFAB)

Keywords

• Professional pickleball tour
• Sports event management
• Live sports streaming
• Athlete talent development
• Sports sponsorship marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tournament Operations: The PPA Tour generates revenue through tournament entry fees for amateur and professional players, with prize money totaling $5,235,943 combined gold prize grid and appearance fees across the 2026 season.
2. PickleballTV Streaming Subscription: Subscription-based streaming platform at $5.99/month or $59.99/year providing live tournament streams, on-demand content, and multi-court viewing capabilities. Partial access available before paywall; full access for paid subscribers.
3. Sponsorship and Advertising: Multi-tiered sponsorship program with Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Tour-level sponsors including title sponsorship (Carvana), category-specific partners (Ensure, Humana, JOOLA, Veolia), and broadcast partnerships across ESPN, Tennis Channel, CBS, ABC, Fox, and Prime Video.
4. Camps and Hospitality Packages: Revenue from pickleball camps (Bronze $370, Silver $470, Gold $900) and premium hospitality experiences including VIP clinics, private hospitality spaces, corporate tournaments, and meet-and-greet experiences with professional players.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) operates the premier professional pickleball tour in the United States and internationally, organizing 25+ annual tournament stops where elite players compete for PPA ranking points and prize money totaling over $5.2M annually. The organization also operates PickleballTV, a subscription streaming platform delivering 3,000+ live hours of pickleball content, alongside youth (Junior PPA) and senior (Humana Senior Open) development programs, training camps, and premium hospitality experiences.

Product overview

The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) operates the premier professional pickleball tour in the United States and internationally. The core offering is the PPA Tour, which organizes 25+ tournaments annually featuring the world's top players competing for ranking points and prize money. Supporting offerings include the Junior PPA Tour (youth development for ages 8-18), the Humana Senior Open (for players 50+), and international expansion through the Asian Tour and PPA Spain. Digital products include PickleballTV for streaming 3,000+ live hours of content, the MATCHDAY mobile app, and the PARTNERS docuseries. Additional services encompass training camps, hospitality packages, and corporate event hosting. The tour culminates in the PPA Finals and Veolia Pickleball National Championships as premier events on the calendar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Junior PPA: Youth pickleball program for players 8-18 years old, featuring competition events, development opportunities, and social activity alongside PPA Tour stops.
• Humana Senior Open
• PPA Pickleball Camps

Products and services

• PPA Tour (Professional Pickleball Association Tour) The primary professional pickleball league organizing 25+ tournaments annually across the United States and internationally, featuring the world's top players competing for titles and PPA ranking points (Worlds 3000, Slam 2000, Cup 1500, Open 1000, Challenger 125-500) with $5.2M+ in annual prize money and appearance fees.
• PickleballTV
• Junior PPA Tour Youth development program for pickleball players aged 8-18, offering competition events, rankings, and development opportunities alongside PPA Tour stops across multiple age divisions (12U, 14U, 16U, 18U) in singles, doubles, and mixed formats, powered by Proton.
• Humana Senior Open Competition series for pickleball players aged 50 and older, showcasing skills and passion for the game in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at Humana Senior Open events as part of the Carvana PPA Tour.
• PPA Pickleball Camps Training camps led by PPA Tour professionals offering pickleball instruction in three packages: Bronze ($370 - 6 hours instruction plus 1-day courtside ticket), Silver ($470 - 2-day camp plus weeklong courtside pass), and Gold ($900 - 2-day camp plus weeklong VIP Gold ticket with exclusive championship court access).
• Hospitality & Premium Experiences Premium hospitality experiences including VIP clinics with PPA professionals, private hospitality spaces, elevated experience packages, and corporate pickleball tournaments for up to 200 participants.
• MATCHDAY App Mobile application for PPA Tour and MLP fans to access schedules, scores, player information, and live event content for professional pickleball.
• PARTNERS Docuseries Reality docuseries produced with Carvana and Shutterstock Studios offering behind-the-scenes access to professional pickleball athletes, their lives, and business operations on the PPA Tour, nominated for 'Best Episodic Series' at Tribeca X.
• International Tournament Series (Asian Tour) International expansion series bringing PPA Tour events to Asia and other global markets, including stops in Vietnam (HB Vietnam Open, Hanoi Cup), Japan, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and newly announced PPA Spain expansion.

Quantifiable outcome

• $225 million landmark investment in Pickleball Inc. (parent company) from Apollo Sports Capital and Tom Dundon's family office
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• SXYcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 February 2026Leading beach tennis and pickleball brand announced multi-year partnerships becoming Official Team Uniform and Official Headwear Partner of MLP and title sponsor of the SXY Newport Open on the Carvana PPA Tour.
• Park Place TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 13 January 2026Official Technology Partner of both PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP presented by DoorDash). Multi-year partnership providing technology resources for national tournaments, player engagement, fan experiences, and educational donations to schools.
• Abbott (Ensure)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 December 2025Ensure Max Protein positioned as the exclusive protein shake partner of the PPA Tour, aimed at raising awareness about muscle health as adults lose approximately 8% of muscle every decade starting at age 40.
• Black Desert ResortcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2025Black Desert Resort in Utah partnered with PPA and Greater Zion to host the Greater Zion Cup tournament, expanding recreational facilities with 21 pickleball courts including a Championship Court opening Spring 2026.
• CarvanaflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Sponsor of the PPA Tour. Multiple-year partnership including title sponsorship of major tournaments including the Carvana PPA Masters, Carvana Mesa Cup, Carvana Pickleball Masters, and Carvana PPA Tour events.
• HumanacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Human Care Partner and sponsor of the Humana Senior Pickleball Open Tour for players aged 50 and older.
• JOOLAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPaddle sponsor providing equipment for PPA Tour players and featured as sponsor of PPA Pickleball Camps and major tournaments including Toys R Us PPA Finals presented by JOOLA.
• Proton SportscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial paddle sponsor of Junior PPA Tour and sponsor of PPA Pickleball Camps, featuring branded paddles for tournament winners.
• VeoliacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Sustainability Partner and title sponsor of major events including Veolia Pickleball National Championships, Veolia Cincinnati Cup, Veolia Chicago Open, and Veolia Malibu Cup.
• Zimmer BiometcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial MedTech and Joint Replacement Partner of the PPA Tour, sponsoring the Zimmer Biomet Cape Coral Open and providing膝盖 replacement technology awareness.
• PickleballTVcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Broadcast Partner of the PPA Tour, streaming live tournaments, on-demand content, and original programming including Grandstand and Showcase Court coverage.
• Pickleball CentralcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Store of the PPA Tour providing apparel and merchandise through ppatour.com/shop and on-site at tournaments.
• RatecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive Mortgage Partner and title sponsor of the Rate Las Vegas Open on the PPA Tour.
• PlaysightcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial AI Technology partner providing advanced tracking and analytics technology for tournament coverage and player development.
• TixrcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive Ticket Seller for PPA Tour events, providing ticketing platform for spectator attendance at tournaments nationwide.
• EnginecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Travel Partner providing travel management software consolidating hotel, flight, and rental car bookings for PPA Tour participants and fans.
• DUPRcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Rating partner providing dynamic pickleball rating system for player skill evaluation and tournament seeding.
• Life TimecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Ball provider and venue partner, with Life Time facilities hosting major PPA Tour events including Sacramento Open at Life Time Arden.
• Major League Pickleball (MLP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLP is the sister company to PPA Tour, owned by the United Pickleball Association (UPA) following the 2024 merger. MLP offers team-based competitive format complementing the PPA's individual tournament structure.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LPGA: Premier US women's professional golf tour operating tournament circuits, rankings, and player development pathways. Comparable in structure (women's individual-sport tour) and monetization (sponsorships, broadcast, hospitality) to PPA Tour's women's competition.
• WTA (Women's Tennis Association): Global women's professional tennis tour running a year-round circuit of tournaments, rankings, prize money, and player development. Comparable to PPA Tour's women's side (anchored by Anna Leigh Waters) in tour governance, broadcast, and sponsorship model.
• World Surf League (WSL): Private-equity-backed operator of a single global professional tour for an emerging lifestyle sport, with international events, exclusive contracts, broadcast deals, and centralized digital streaming. Highly comparable to PPA Tour as a private emerging-sport league pursuing the same playbook.
• Major League Pickleball (MLP): Sister company to PPA Tour under the United Pickleball Association umbrella following the 2024 merger. Operates a team-based professional pickleball format complementing PPA's individual tournament structure; directly comparable as a pro pickleball property under shared ownership.
• ATP Tour: Global men's professional tennis tour operating a year-round circuit of tournaments, rankings, prize money, and exclusive player contracts. Highly comparable business model to PPA Tour in structure, monetization (sponsorships, broadcast, ticketing, hospitality), and individual-sport tour governance.
• Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) Tour: Direct competitor to PPA Tour in professional pickleball, operating a parallel circuit of professional tournaments, rankings, and prize money. Highly comparable as the most direct rival for player contracts, sponsors, and broadcast distribution in the same sport.

Broad incumbents

• USA Pickleball: National governing body for pickleball in the US, setting rules, sanctioning tournaments, and managing amateur ratings. Adjacent peer — not a competing tour but the sport's regulatory and grassroots counterpart that shapes the ecosystem PPA operates in.
• UFC (TKO Group Holdings): Private-equity-influenced operator of a premier individual combat sports league with global events, exclusive fighter contracts, premium broadcast rights, and major sponsorship deals. Comparable as a private sport promotion business with similar event-driven monetization architecture.
• PGA Tour: Premier US men's professional golf tour operating a national circuit of tournaments with massive sponsorship, broadcast, and hospitality revenue. Comparable as a premium individual-sport tour with similar tournament structure, player contracts, and brand-led monetization.

Emerging players

• Premier Lacrosse League (PLL): Venture-backed professional lacrosse league in the US pursuing a tour-based model with national broadcast, centralized digital distribution, and star-player contracts. Comparable as a private emerging-sport league using the same tournament-tour + OTT streaming playbook as PPA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ppatour
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSP6HlrMmRqogym2aHBPHpw
• Facebookfacebook.com/OfficialPPATour
• Instagraminstagram.com/ppatour

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Professional Pickleball Association