Pickleball Inc.

What Pickleball Inc. does

Pickleball Inc. is a Dallas-based, privately held holding company that operates the only fully integrated pickleball ecosystem in the United States, consolidating the sport's two leading professional circuits, retail, media, software, and physical infrastructure under one corporate umbrella. Founded in 2022 when billionaire Tom Dundon partnered with PPA Tour founder Connor Pardoe, the company wholly owns the Carvana PPA Tour (individual professional tournament circuit) and Major League Pickleball (MLP, team-based league), which together host more than 50 events annually featuring 180 contracted athletes competing for over $33 million in prize money. Pro leagues are projected to contribute roughly $80 million of an overall $140 million revenue target in 2026; PPA ticket revenue grew 58% and MLP attendance grew 57% in the first half of 2026.

The company's technology stack spans tournament management (PickleballTournaments.com), league and club operations (Pickleball Leagues, Pickleball Clubs, Pickleball Team Leagues), e-commerce (Pickleball Central), media streaming via the Pickleball TV joint venture with Tennis Channel, court construction (Just Courts), and consumer mobile apps (MATCHDAY, Game Maker, TopCourt). Pickleball.com acts as the central hub, with 3.9M matches played, 21.6k tournaments hosted, 6k active clubs, and 330 active leagues; DUPR, held as a minority stake, rates 1M+ players. Pickleball Inc. is the exclusive worldwide distributor of PlayReplay's AI-powered automated line-calling system, deploying computer vision across four net-post cameras to officiate matches and capture performance analytics starting in 2026.

Revenue is generated through six streams: league ticketing and sponsorships (title sponsor Carvana, presenting sponsor DoorDash), media and content rights via Pickleball TV, equipment retail through Pickleball Central, court construction and public-private facility development via Just Courts, software subscriptions across the tournament/league/club platforms, and international operations through a Singapore regional office that is projected to deliver nearly $10 million in 2026 revenue from 11 events across Asia and Australia. The May 2026 $225 million structured investment led by Apollo Sports Capital at a $750 million valuation, alongside Dundon Capital Partners, brought total capital raised to $315 million and reconsolidated the merged MLP/PPA assets under Pickleball Inc. The company serves four primary customer segments: 180 professional athletes; 25 million U.S. recreational and amateur players; corporate sponsors seeking access to an affluent, active demographic; and facility operators and franchisees including the minority-staked The Picklr network.

Name

Pickleball Inc.

Legal name

Pickleball OpCo LLC

Website

https://pickleball.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pickleball Inc. is a Dallas-based holding company that consolidates the sport's professional leagues (PPA Tour, MLP), consumer digital platforms, retail (Pickleball Central), media (Pickleball TV), and infrastructure under one ecosystem, serving pro athletes, 25M+ U.S. recreational players, corporate sponsors, and facility operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Sports League Operations

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42391)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Pickleball Equipment & Accessories Retail (CRAMAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional Esports Leagues & Circuits (MPAFADAA), Team Sports Goals, Nets & Field Equipment Retail (CRAMAEAK), Racquet Sport Balls & Shuttlecocks Retail (CRAMAFAH)

Keywords

• Professional pickleball leagues
• Sports media streaming
• Tournament management software
• Sports equipment ecommerce
• Court construction services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional League Operations: Revenue from PPA Tour and MLP events including ticket sales (PPA ticket revenue up 58% in H1 2026) and sponsorships from major partners like Carvana and DoorDash. The company projects $80M in revenue from its pro leagues in 2026.
2. Media and Content Rights: Pickleball TV joint venture with Tennis Channel generates revenue through streaming and broadcast deals. Executives targeting national broadcast rights deal as key growth driver.
3. Retail and E-commerce: Pickleball Central operates as a retail/e-commerce platform selling equipment, with Pickleball.com serving as the main consumer-facing brand.
4. Infrastructure Development: Just Courts division handles court construction and facility development through public-private partnerships, creating new venue infrastructure.
5. Software and Technology Platforms: Pickleball Play Solutions and PickleballTournaments.com provide tournament management and software services. PlayReplay distribution adds technology revenue stream.
6. International Operations: International expansion through Singapore office with events across Asia/Australia expected to generate nearly $10M in revenue in 2026.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pickleball Inc. operates the two leading professional pickleball leagues in the United States — the PPA Tour (individual tournament circuit) and Major League Pickleball (team-based league) — together with complementary media, retail, software, and infrastructure businesses. The company distributes professional pickleball content through Pickleball TV, sells equipment via Pickleball Central, builds courts through Just Courts, and provides tournament/league/club management software across its digital platform portfolio. In 2026 it projects roughly $80 million in pro league revenue and $140 million in total revenue across the integrated ecosystem.

Product overview

Pickleball Inc. is a diversified pickleball holding company operating a platform-plus-modules architecture that integrates professional leagues, consumer platforms, media streaming, retail, software, and physical infrastructure under one unified ecosystem. The core product portfolio is anchored by two professional leagues — the PPA Tour (individual tournament circuit) and Major League Pickleball (MLP, team-based league) — alongside consumer-facing digital platforms including Pickleball.com (hub), Pickleball Tournaments (bracket/event management), Pickleball Leagues, Pickleball Team Leagues, and Pickleball Clubs. The retail vertical is led by Pickleball Central, while the media/content vertical includes Pickleball TV (joint venture with Tennis Channel) and the MATCHDAY and Game Maker mobile apps. Infrastructure is served through Just Courts (court construction) and Pickleball Play Solutions (software). Pickleball Inc. also holds minority stakes in The Picklr (facility franchising) and DUPR (player ratings system).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pickleball.com: The primary website hub for pickleball community, featuring news, tournaments, results, leagues, clubs, player rankings, and ticketing.
• PPA Tour
• Major League Pickleball (MLP)
• Pickleball Central
• Pickleball TV
• Pickleball Tournaments
• Just Courts
• Pickleball Leagues
• Pickleball Clubs
• TopCourt
• MATCHDAY
• Game Maker

Products and services

• PPA Tour (Professional Pickleball Association Tour) The premier professional pickleball tournament circuit operated by Pickleball Inc., featuring individual competitions across multiple divisions with prize money and rankings for 180 contracted athletes competing in 50+ events annually.
• Major League Pickleball (MLP) Professional team-based pickleball league operated by Pickleball Inc., featuring franchise teams competing in a season format with matches, standings, and playoffs. St. Louis Shock led the 2026 season standings with 83 points.
• Pickleball Central E-commerce retail platform selling pickleball equipment, paddles, balls, and apparel to individual consumers and clubs. One of Pickleball Inc.'s primary consumer-facing retail brands.
• Pickleball TV Streaming platform and joint venture with Tennis Channel for broadcasting pickleball matches, providing live and on-demand coverage of PPA Tour and MLP events, including national CBS broadcast windows.
• Pickleball Tournaments Tournament management and bracket software platform that hosts, manages, and supports pickleball tournaments and events, powering registration, bracketing, and results across 21.6k tournaments.
• Pickleball Leagues Platform for organizing and managing pickleball leagues, enabling registration, scheduling, and league operations for community and competitive play across 330 active leagues.
• Pickleball Team Leagues Team-based league platform supporting Major League Pickleball (MLP) operations, including team standings, stats, and season management across 45 active team leagues.
• Pickleball Clubs Platform for managing and discovering pickleball clubs, connecting players with local club communities across 6,000 active clubs.
• Just Courts Court construction and facility infrastructure business that designs and builds pickleball courts, serving both professional tournament venues and community facilities through public-private partnerships.
• MATCHDAY Mobile App Mobile application by Pickleball Inc. for tracking pickleball matches, stats, and game information.
• Game Maker Mobile App Mobile application by Pickleball Inc. focused on game creation and management features for pickleball players.
• TopCourt Mobile App Mobile application and platform for pickleball match tracking and performance data, operated as part of Pickleball Inc.'s digital product ecosystem.
• PlayReplay Automated Line-Calling Technology AI-powered automated line-calling technology using four cameras mounted on net posts to detect line calls, foot faults, and kitchen violations in professional pickleball matches, with performance analytics. Certified for tennis with ITF Silver Classification. Pickleball Inc. is the exclusive worldwide distributor.

Quantifiable outcome

• 58% increase in PPA ticket revenue in H1 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PlayReplaycoreTechnology or Integration · 8 July 2025Partnership to implement AI-powered automated line-calling technology starting in 2026. Pickleball Inc. serves as exclusive worldwide distributor of PlayReplay's system.
• Tennis ChannelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner for Pickleball TV streaming platform, providing broadcast and streaming infrastructure for professional pickleball content distribution.
• The PicklrminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPickleball Inc. holds a minority stake in The Picklr, a fast-growing pickleball facility franchiser expanding the sport's infrastructure footprint.
• DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPickleball Inc. holds a minority stake in DUPR, the player ratings system with over 1 million users, integrated into the Pickleball.com ecosystem.
• Connor PardoecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPPA Tour founder and co-owner alongside Tom Dundon, instrumental in establishing professional pickleball and merging leagues under Pickleball Inc.
• CarvanacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of the PPA Tour (Carvana PPA Tour), providing naming rights and marketing integration across professional events.
• DoorDashcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor and presenting partner for MLP events, including MLP St. Louis presented by DoorDash, driving consumer engagement.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Endeavor Group Holdings: Global sports and entertainment holding company that owns/operates UFC, PBR, IMG, and other sports properties. Comparable to Pickleball Inc. as a larger incumbent running multiple sports assets, professional leagues, and events under a single platform.
• TKO Group Holdings: Public holding company combining UFC and WWE under one corporate parent, monetizing combat sports through events, broadcast rights, sponsorships, and content. Comparable to Pickleball Inc. as a multi-league sports holding-company model and as a public-market valuation reference for private pickleball assets.
• Fanatics: Dominant sports merchandise and licensed-products retailer with deep league partnerships. Comparable to Pickleball Inc.'s Pickleball Central vertical as a competing sports-retail channel and as a potential partner or competitor for league merchandise rights.

Emerging players

• Athletes Unlimited: Innovative professional sports league using rotating team formats and player-centric economics across multiple sports. Comparable to Pickleball Inc. as an emerging-format league operator testing alternative structures for individual/team competitions and athlete compensation.
• National Pickleball League: Smaller-scale competing professional pickleball organization. Comparable to Pickleball Inc. as a direct pickleball competitor, though with significantly smaller scale, fewer events, and lower athlete compensation.

Direct peers

• LIV Golf: Newer professional sports league funded by a deep-pocketed sponsor (Saudi PIF) competing with an established incumbent. Comparable to Pickleball Inc. in its reliance on event-based sponsorship economics, team-format competitions, and the need to build broadcast and audience reach against legacy competition.
• World Surf League: Operates a global professional individual-sport league circuit with title sponsors, broadcast deals, and event-driven revenue. Comparable to Pickleball Inc. as a single-organization operator of an emerging sport's professional tour, monetizing through tickets, sponsorships, and media rights.
• Premier Lacrosse League: Tour-style professional league for an emerging/alternative sport, with event-driven revenue and sponsor-led economics. Comparable to Pickleball Inc. as a similarly structured emerging-sport league built around a circuit of events rather than home-and-home franchises.
• World Team Pickleball: Competing professional pickleball team-format league operating independently of MLP. Comparable to Pickleball Inc. as a direct rival competing for the same athletes, sponsors, and pickleball fan attention in the team-league format.

Others

• The Picklr: Fast-growing pickleball facility franchiser in which Pickleball Inc. holds a minority stake. Comparable as part of the same pickleball ecosystem, with overlapping interest in infrastructure expansion, though Pickleball Inc. is an investor rather than a direct competitor in club operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/pickleball_com
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PickleballdotCom
• Facebookfacebook.com/pickleballcom
• Instagraminstagram.com/pickleballdotcom
• TikToktiktok.com/@pickleballdotcom?lang=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pickleball-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Pickleball Inc.