Pickleball's Explosive Growth: From Backyard Game to Multi-Million Dollar Business
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Resources & Recommendations
Research & Studies
- Study by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association - This study indicates that Pickleball now has 19.8 million participants in the United States, making it America's fastest-growing sport for the fourth consecutive year in 2025.
Organizations & Institutions
- Major League Pickleball (MLP) - One of the two primary professional Pickleball leagues that merged in 2024, focusing on co-ed team-based competition.
- Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) - The other primary professional Pickleball league that merged in 2024, focusing on individual competition.
- United Pickleball Association (UPA) - The parent company formed by the merger of MLP and PPA in 2024, overseeing the leagues' business operations and facilitating cross-promotional sponsorships.
Websites & Online Resources
- Pickleball TV - A 24-hour digital network dedicated exclusively to Pickleball, co-launched by UPA and the Tennis Channel in 2023.
People Mentioned
- LeBron James - Investor in MLP franchises.
- Tom Brady - Investor in MLP franchises.
- Kevin Durant - Investor in MLP franchises.
- Drake - Investor in MLP franchises.
- Michael B. Jordan - Investor in MLP franchises.
- Patrick Mahomes - Investor in MLP franchises.
- Gary Vaynerchuk - Investor in MLP franchises.
- Caitlin Clark - Her impact on the WNBA was referenced to contextualize UPA's revenue in comparison to other leagues.