Major League Pickleball (MLP) has announced that Steve Kuhn will become a minority owner in the majority of its teams.
A Steady Hand
Steve Kuhn established Major League Pickleball (MLP) in 2021 and has since guided the league with a steady hand, resulting in impressive growth within a mere two years.
Recently, MLP and the PPA Tour made a joint announcement regarding their intention to merge, creating a unified entity in the realm of pickleball.
Kuhn will be sharing ownership stakes in the new team with his longstanding management team and advisors.
This amalgamated organization is poised to offer players, fans, and sponsors the advantages of a more streamlined schedule and a centralized authority overseeing the two distinct brands.
The newly formed holding company is expected to instill significant confidence and opportunities in the future of professional pickleball.
A Pivotal Role
Kuhn’s foresight played a pivotal role in conceptualizing MLP’s innovative coed league format, which brings thrilling competitions to fans throughout the regular season and culminates in championships.
“Steve is the visionary who knew before all of us the power of pickleball,” remarked Gary Vaynerchuk, Owner of MLP’s New Jersey 5s. “He was the innovator who helmed the league as it has experienced significant growth in the last two years.”
Major League Pickleball founder Steve Kuhn thinks the league will challenge MLS, MLB, and the NHL in terms of viewership 🤔 pic.twitter.com/KM0yhxewhk
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) March 14, 2023
“Steve’s foresight really professionalized and commercialized the game that we all love for athletes and fans,” added Rich Kleiman, Owner of MLP’s Brooklyn Aces. “We are delighted to have him as a partner in these teams, and our GMs are all going to fight over his advice.”
We’ve featured Steve and his vision for the future of pickleball in some other great articles. Click here to read them.
About Major League Pickleball (MLP by Margaritaville):
Major League Pickleball (MLP by Margaritaville) stands as the premier team-based professional pickleball league, representing the fastest-growing sport in the United States.
Founded by Steve Kuhn in 2021, MLP has expanded from eight to 24 teams and remains committed to advancing the sport’s impact on society and all aspects of pickleball’s business.
MLP showcases nearly 100 of the finest athletes in the sport across 24 teams, employing a distinctive coed format, renowned team owners, an inventive draft process, easily understandable scoring, and the most substantial prize money payouts in professional pickleball.
In December 2022, MLP welcomed its inaugural title sponsor, Margaritaville, leading to the rebranding of the league as MLP by Margaritaville.
Inspired by Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville is a global lifestyle brand serving more than 20 million travelers and consumers annually, offering them a chance to alter their latitude and attitude with Margaritaville.
For further details, please visit margaritaville.com.
For more information on Major League Pickleball, visit the official website and follow MLP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
About Steve Kuhn
Steve Kuhn serves as the Founder and Board Chair of Major League Pickleball. Steve also established DUPR – Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating, the sport’s most precise global rating system.
DUPR enjoys the trust of premier Pickleball clubs worldwide, professional tours, and recreational players alike.
Steve’s professional journey commenced as a trader at Piper Jaffray, later advancing to become a portfolio manager at leading global financial firms, including Citadel and Goldman Sachs.
In 2008, he joined Pine River Capital Management. He achieved significant success as one of the most accomplished hedge fund managers in history, amassing over $14 billion in assets under management and generating returns exceeding 400% during his six-year tenure.
Concurrently, he served as Chief Investment Officer of the publicly traded entity Two Harbors Investment Corp., which thrived under his leadership, attaining a market cap surpassing $4 billion.
Steve is the founder of several charitable initiatives, including Charity: Water, Young Voices of Austin, and the Andy Roddick Foundation.
He presently serves as a Founding Board Member of the Immigration Justice Corps, the nation’s inaugural fellowship dedicated to providing high-quality legal assistance for immigrants in their pursuit of citizenship and protection from deportation.
Additionally, Steve is the architect behind the IDEAL (Immigration Designed to Enhance American Life) Program, a transformative venture focused on enhancing America’s socioeconomic well-being through immigration reform.
