So, you wanna be a pickleball star? Thanks to a new reality show, someone’s dreams may come true. With virtual reality pickleball gaining traction, it was only a matter of time before reality TV and streaming shows would follow.
Pickleball Kingdom, a Chandler, Arizona-based company, is holding a casting call for Season One of Pickleball Paddle Battle. A total of 16 players will be selected to compete over a nine-day period from September 16-24.
One male and one female winner will be selected to win a one-year Pickleball Kingdom sponsorship to play the sport professionally. The show will be hosted by Clayton Echard from Season 26 of The Bachelor.
“Viewers can expect awe-inspiring displays of athleticism, gripping rivalries, and emotional triumphs, all set against the backdrop of the pickleball craze that has swept throughout the world,” Mike Rodrigues, owner of Pickleball Kingdom, said in a statement.
The sponsorship contract covers up to 20 entries to U.S. pickleball events, plus travel, lodging, and per diem. Two additional winners will get the opportunity to break into the pickleball business by being awarded Pickleball Kingdom franchises.
Like most reality shows, Pickleball Paddle Battle will capture the action on and off the court. Microphones and cameras will film every drop, dink, cross, and slam, following contestants 24/7.
Neither a television network nor streaming service has been announced, but plans are in the works, according to Rodrigues.
“We are presently in talks with several national networks and streaming services to finalize a distribution deal that will showcase the sport of pickleball to the masses. Each episode will highlight the backstories of the contestants and test their agility, strategy, and ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances both on and off the court.”
Mike Rodrigues, Founder of Pickleball Paddle Battle
Pickleball Kingdom is an indoor facility that hosts corporate gatherings, birthday parties, and other events, along with membership plans and equipment for purchase. They also offer classes for beginners. Rodrigues formed a production company, Pickleball Kingdom Productions, to launch the show.
Pickleball Paddle Battle is not the only TV or streaming series related to the sport. Comedian Stephen Colbert hosted the CBS show Pickled, a celebrity tournament benefiting Comic Relief. In the TV comedy “Pickleball Is Life: Dill With It!”, three best friends are compelled to participate in a high-stakes competition after they find themselves in a pickle.
Rodrigues’s creation is different in that it allows contestants to compete for the chance to be real pros or get into the business of pickleball. Think you’ve got what it takes? Applications for the show are being accepted through mid-August. Click here to apply.
