The PPA Tour has announced new group and wholesale ticket pricing options for future tournaments, offering its fans bulk packages of 20 tickets for a discounted rate. These packages will be available starting with the upcoming PPA Texas Open and will have options for the PPA’s Grounds Pass, Courtside Package, and VIP Package ticket types.
According to a recent email sent out by the PPA, the idea of selling these group packages is to encourage pickleball fans to potentially resell tickets for a net profit. Depending on the ticket type, they claim that the estimated reseller profits will range between $200-$1,500 if they are able to resell the entire package near the tickets’ retail value.
For example, let’s take a look at the least and most expensive packages and their profit estimates from the “Group Rates and Wholesale” option for the PPA Texas Open.
| Ticket Type | Package Cost | Fees | Estimated Profit | Profit Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grounds Pass | $250 ($500 value) | $25.51 | $200+ | ~45% |
| VIP Package (Sat. or Sun.) | $3,000 ($5,000+ value) | $246.81 | $1,500+ | ~30% |
Profit margins ranging between 30-45% makes this an incredibly enticing opportunity for those interested in getting into ticket scalping. However, one must be aware of the risk that you may not be able to sell off all of your tickets in order to maximize your profits.
Additionally, even though it is likely you’ll be able to resell them for retail value as suggested by the PPA, the nature of ticket reselling is that secondary-market pricing might vary. Reselling pro pickleball tickets is a new and relatively unknown market, so there will be multiple variables that make the promise of profit equally uncertain.
In the email, the PPA also notes that they are currently looking to hire additional salespeople and ticketing associates. They suggest that resellers that perform well will also be put on a short list for potential hires.
So if a job opportunity with the PPA interests you, keep track of your sales! We recommend reaching out to the PPA directly if you begin to find success in ticket reselling.
APP Announces Sports Illustrated Ticketing Partnership
In related news, the APP announced that they’ll be partnering with Sports Illustrated Ticketing as their official ticket vendor for the remainder of the 2023 season. Starting with the upcoming 2023 APP Newport Beach Open, SI Ticketing’s Box Office event management platform will be the primary source of tickets for APP Tour events.
In addition to traditional tickets, Box Office will also offer their new Super-Ticket program within the APP. Super-Tickets is an NFT-based ticketing system that strives to connect with fans through exclusive offers, collectibles, and other engagement opportunities before, during, and after events.
Tom Webb, the CMO of the APP Tour, believes that their partnership with SI Ticketing is a huge step forward for the future of their tournaments.
“Welcoming SI Tickets into the APP family as Official Ticketing and Marketing Partner is truly groundbreaking for our organization, and the sport of pickleball overall. The Sports Illustrated brand has a storied history and is now building the future of ticketing. This partnership allows the APP to create one-of-a-kind tickets for our events, connect with fans better than ever before, and add value to their event experience.”
Tom Webb, Chief Marketing Officer of the APP
As pro pickleball continues to grow in popularity, the APP and PPA are clearly putting forth an effort to improve their ticketing systems. We’re eager to see how both of these programs are received, and more importantly, if their implementation impacts pickleball as a spectator sport.
