Today, the famous YouTube channel Dude Perfect announced that their beloved mascot will now be used for a new official Major League Pickleball (MLP) team: The Frisco Pandas. The team, currently known as the Frisco Clean Cause, will be moving its headquarters to Frisco, TX, under the ownership of Dude Perfect and star NFL quarterback Dak Prescott.
Frisco has been dubbed Sports City USA, as it is also home to many other famous Texas teams, such as the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Stars, and FC Dallas, as well as the headquarters of the PGA of America. Dude Perfect is proud to be now a part of the world of pro pickleball and its opportunity to bring the excitement of the game to the Frisco community.
“This is a sport that we are incredibly passionate about, and we’re beyond excited to build another premier professional sports franchise in our hometown of Frisco, Texas.”
Coby Cotton, Co-Founder of Dude Perfect
The team name change is effective immediately, as is apparent on the MLP’s website, making this a surprising mid-season rebrand for one of pickleball’s top pro teams. It’s exciting to see significant changes in team ownership like this, and it has us curious about what other changes will be made at the end of this year’s first season.
Dude Perfect put out an online poll for the name change last month, and of the names that were suggested, the Pandas received an overwhelming majority of the votes. This result isn’t surprising, as the channel has featured the panda suit in many of its popular trick shot and stunt videos.
With support from the team’s new ownership, the Frisco Pandas are planning some exciting partnerships with media partners, esteemed brands, and real estate developers. The team will also launch a new online store for apparel and hopes to host public events starting in the fall.
The Pandas’ next tournament is just two weeks away: MLP San Clemente. While the Pandas unfortunately don’t have a shot at making it to the Season One Super Finals, we are excited to see the team’s players kitted out in brand-new Panda uniforms!
One can only hope that the Dude Perfect panda suit will make a guest appearance…
