Pickleball is the latest topic to keep people engaged in discussion for hours at cocktail parties and in all social circles. That said, while the sport has been around for decades, professional pickleball has been a thing for mere months.
Given the growth trajectory of the sport, investment opportunity in and around it abounds. Anyone can and is investing, but why the celebrity obsession with professional pickleball teams?
High-flying Names Adorn Ownership Rosters
Because investment companies, of which celebrities are part of their equation, are the drivers behind pickleball team ownership, it is more complex than one might think to track down all the well-known names now associated with professional pickleball.
While not all-encompassing, as you can see, there is no shortage of professional athletes, Hollywood actors, models, and singers that now own a slice of the pickleball pie.
| NFL | MLB | NBA | Tennis | Celebrities |
| Drew Brees | David Justice | Kevin Durant | Chris Evert | Brene’ Brown |
| Larry Fitzgerald | Justin Verlander | LeBron James | Naomi Osaka | Heidi Klum |
| Patrick Mahomes | Devin Booker | Kim Clijsters | Eva Longoria | |
| Tom Brady | Dirk Nowitzki | Nick Kyrgios | Michael Phelps | |
| Marc Lasry | Kate Upton | |||
| Dierks Bentley |
Individual celebrities are not alone. Formal brand name businesses have also claimed ownership within this budding league. Anheuser-Busch is the sole owner of the Atlanta Bouncers, and The Pardoe Family is the only owner of the Utah Black Diamonds.
In fact, if you would like to apply to be the new GM for the Atlanta Bouncers, Anheuser-Busch is officially accepting applications. Swipe our Instagram post below to learn more.
A Phenomenon That Caught Like Fire
Let’s give credit where credit is due. Brene’ Brown was one of the first to the celebrity ownership party. She owned a team before owning a team was what all the cool kids decided to do. Her commitment to the game dates back to September 2021! In pickleball terms, that is a whole different era.
Since September 2021, the list of owners has exploded, and these ownership groups often have one or more notable names. Since that time, sometimes daily, we have heard of one celebrity after another bringing their interest and money to professional pickleball.
The issue arising from this sudden investment by this eclectic group is the root of their interest. Is this celebrity interest a sincere love of the sport? Do they think they can compound their investment dollars? Are these possibilities mutually exclusive?
Genuine Interest & Bullish Investment Opportunity
The truth about these celebrities is that, in most cases, they likely believe that there is a ripe opportunity to make money in a sport that has a trajectory unlike anything seen in decades. It also is likely that many of them genuinely love the game. Like so many, they played and were hooked.
The combination of being personally hooked by playing, paired with free capital to invest in something they love, makes sense to most of these celebs.
Still, one can’t help but think that there is a little bit of keeping up with the Jones’ going on here. The investment commitment needed for a pickleball team is not like owning an NBA, MLB, NHL, or NFL franchise. In that way, this feels like gambling between millionaires or competition on who has the coolest new sports car.
Barriers to Team Ownership Low
The bottom line is that you don’t need to be a celebrity to own a professional pickleball team. 2023 ownership is closed, but right on the MLP website, anyone can fill out this simple form and express interest in owning in the future.
Even if you are not famous, anyone with decent money or a group of friends who want to pool their cash could live out their professional sports team dream. If you love the game, now is the chance to get in on the ground floor.
