Welcome one and all to the Weekly Pickleball News. Where your hosts for the night, the Aussie Pickleball Bros, report the latest Pickleball news from around the GLOBE. This week we have a look at Australia’s Official Pickleball and Pickleball Betting in the United States. And we take a look at Venus Williams playing at a Pickleball Event along with the Great Pickleball Wall of Long Beach. And much, much more.
Another big Post for your pickleball lovers. Filled with the latest and greatest pickleball news. Courtesy of the Aussie Pickleball Bros. Pickle On!
Australian Pickleball News
Australian Pickleball has an Official Pickleball
It’s official, Franklin Sports is the official Pickleball of Australia. Franklin Sports has signed a multi-year agreement with Pickleball Australia for the Franklin X-40 and X-26 balls. These balls will be used across Australia in future 2023 competitions. And during the partnership, Franklin Sports and Pickleball Australia will focus on growing the sport. This includes various grassroots initiatives, which is a Win-Win and fantastic news.
Read the Pickleball Australia press release on Franklin Sports becomes the official pickleball for Australia
Global Pickleball News
Pickleball Betting is GO in the United States
The Pro Pickleball Association (PPA) has announced a partnership with FanDuel Sportsbook. The betting platform would immediately start taking bets on matches in 10 US states and 1 Canadian province. This is the first time legal Pickleball betting is allowed in the US.
The deal has been in the works since June 2021. The PPA will provide live data and video feeds to participating Sportsbooks. With more states to follow, this story could also flow into the next story about the PPA and its issues with the MLP? Or the Bros. could be speculating?
Read about the Pickleball Betting in the United States here.
Trouble in Pickleball Partnership Paradise between PPA and the MLP
The Professional Pickleball League (PPA) and Major League Pickleball League (MLP) announced that they would merge last November. The PPA claims that the MLP has not signed the partnership and has gone radio silent. And as the MLP keeps signing big-name players for large sums, maybe it doesn’t think it needs the PPA anymore.
Where the PPA has acted as a tour-style league showcasing the best players in the world, the MLP is a team-style pickleball league. Building teams and fans, like most mainstream US sports. One unified league will keep things simple for Pickleball fans to follow. But with the PPA looking into gambling, maybe the two organizations aren’t aligned. An interesting one to follow.
Check out the Pickleball Merger in Jeopardy story here via CNBC
Economists Questioning the Viability of Pickleball on TV
Fans may disagree, but economists are questioning the appetite for Pickleball on TV. The sport “doesn’t make good television” and the ultimate success of the sports needs it to be a “television event”. Without that, the revenue potential is impacted. And this will hurt the viability of the sport.
TV rights are always where the money is for any sport. So this is an interesting angle, on a sport we love to play. But will people want to watch it?
Read the Pickleball Sponsorship Questions Media Rights right here.
Pickleball Fun
Venus Williams plays Pickleball Exhibition Match
Venus Williams was featured in a Pickleball exhibition match organized by Major League Pickleball. Leading up to the US Open 2023, Venus and a slew of other Pro tennis players tried their hand at Pickleball. They played to a packed crowd at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel. Meanwhile, Venus is set to play the US Open for the 24th time in her career. Maybe the 43-year-old will hang up her racquet for a paddle in due course? Stay tuned for that one.
Take a look here at Venus Williams plays Pickleball Exhibition Event.
Bollywood Stars Assemble to Grow the Profile of Pickleball in India
Bollywood writer and director Shashank Khaitan is focused on growing Pickleball in India. Khaitan launched the third edition of the Monsoon Pickleball Championships in Mumbai. Where he assembled other Bollywood stars to get involved to grow the profile of the sport.
The Bros. thinks all he needs to do is film a singing & dancing Bollywood pickleball movie. And you watch the sport explode from there. GUARANTEED!
Read the Pickleball Gets Bollywood Backing right here.
Pickleball Insanity
Noise Complaints Result in Building the Pickleball Wall
Another day, another Pickleball noise complaint story. But this time, in Long Beach California, they are doing something about it. A pickleball wall is being installed to reduce the noise and complaints. Described as “about the same piercing volume as a garbage truck’s backup beeping”. This description is a little extreme, but hilarious. The Wall is to be built in the next week. Good Luck, Long Beach Residents!
Read the Pickleball Wall Noise Complaints story here.
Final Thoughts
And with the image of garbage trucks, that’s it for another week. If you want to catch up on previous news, just take a look at this Pickleball News Page. Plenty of news there, and with luck, we will be back next week with the latest Pickleball News. Delivered weekly with love.
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Pickle On!
The Aussie Pickleball Bros.