Apollo Sports Capital has invested $225 million into a unified pickleball organization, signaling a significant financial commitment to the growing sport. This investment aims to enhance the infrastructure and development of pickleball, highlighting its increasing popularity and potential for commercial growth.
'); }); AU / NZ America Europe/UK Membership Login News Events Women in Sport Summit 2026 Women in Sport Futures Day 2026 Unmissable Sports Forum Unmissable Sports Lunch Networking View All Education Playa Power Data GlS QUT View All Membership News Australia / New Zealand Events Conferences Awards Networking View All Education Playa Power Data GlS QUT View All Membership Topics Brands Media & Broadcast Olympic Sponsorship Sports Tech Women’s Sport Show More Topics >> Sports Australian Rules Basketball Cricket Netball Rugby League Soccer (Football) Show More Sports >> Login Membership Home > Finance > Apollo Sports Capital Injects $225 Million into Unified Pickleball Entity Finance, Investment 2 min read Apollo Sports Capital Injects $225 Million into Unified Pickleball Entity Written by MOS Editorial Team Published on 6 May 2026 The rapid commercialisation of pickleball has reached a significant milestone as Apollo Sports Capital led a USD225 million (AUD310 million) structured investment into Pickleball Inc . The deal, which values the parent company at USD750 million (AUD1 billion), officially merges the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLC) into a single consolidated entity, aiming to transition the sport from a “pandemic-era novelty” to a tier-one American sporting asset. The consolidation seeks to solve the fragmentation that previously existed between the professional tour and league formats. By uniting retail, technology, and media verticals under one roof, the newly formed group reported generating more than $140 million in revenue in 2025. Following the deal, majority ownership remains with Tom Dundon (owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes) and the Pardoe family. Pickleball Inc. CEO Connor Pardoe described the investment as a “seismic day” for the business, signalling that the sport has matured beyond the emerging phase. “The continued and dynamic year-over-year growth data has proven without a doubt that pickleball is… quickly becoming the next tier-one sport in America,” Odhwani stated. The investment includes the full portfolio of Pickleball Inc., most notably the indoor franchise The Picklr , which was backed in 2024 at a USD59 million (AUD81 million) valuation. This focus on physical infrastructure is a core pillar of the new strategy, addressing the critical shortage of permanent courts across North America. Key developments in the infrastructure and media space include: Media Reach: The PPA Tour set an all-time linear record in January with 791,000 average viewers on CBS, while MLP drew 499,000 viewers in a similar window. Facility Expansion: The capital will support the growth of the 190-club Life Time network, which currently hosts over 800 permanent courts, as well as new high-scale projects like the Traene Fitness & Pickleball facility in New Hampshire. Scalable Content: MLP commissioner, Samin Odhwani, confirmed the capital will be used to expand into new media opportunities and scalable event infrastructure. Don’t miss out on the latest in sports business – Subscribe today to the free Ministry of Sport newsletter and stay ahead of the game. For even more exclusive insights, event tickets, professional development and networking events, become a MoS Member today! . National Football League owners have voted unanimously to approve the sale of the... The professional women's basketball league Unrivaled has officially announced that its Series C... LIV Golf announced that approximately 90 per cent of its workforce will be... Join the most engaged community in the Sports Business World. Get all the latest news, insights, data, education and event updates. Your MVP in the Business of Sport. We play the game to add value to the Sports Business industry by delivering News, Insights, Education and Events. Join the most engaged community in the sports business world. Want to be part of the team? Subscribe for free to join today! Copyright © 2026 | Ministry of Sport | All Rights Reserved.
Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: ministryofsport.com
Apollo Sports Capital, Unified Pickleball Entity, Ministry of Sport
Apollo Sports Capital: Apollo Sports Capital has injected $225 million into the Unified Pickleball Entity.
Unified Pickleball Entity: Unified Pickleball Entity is the recipient of a $225 million investment from Apollo Sports Capital.
Ministry of Sport: Ministry of Sport is mentioned in relation to the investment made by Apollo Sports Capital into the Unified Pickleball Entity.
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