Major League Pickleball’s Financial Troubles: Major League Pickleball (MLP) is facing a significant financial hurdle, as it needs to secure a $10 million emergency loan by January 15 to continue operations. The request comes just months after a major merger with the PPA Tour, raising concerns about the sport’s future.
The Financial Crisis
The MLP and PPA Tour merged in 2024, forming a new entity called the UPA, supported by major investors like Tom Brady, LeBron James, and Draymond Green. However, the UPA now requires an emergency $10 million loan to meet its financial obligations.
Professional pickleball player Jillian Braverman highlighted this issue in a thread on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that the UPA had sent loan requests to team owners.
Ten months after the blockbuster $75 Million merger between Major League Pickleball (LeBron James, Tom Brady, Anheuser-Busch) and Tom Dundon’s (Carvana, Top Golf) backed PPA Tour, the new entity (the UPA) needs an emergency bridge loan of $10mm by January 15 to meet its financial obligations,” Braverman tweeted.
Ten months after the blockbuster “$75 Million” merger between Major League Pickleball (Lebron James, Tom Brady, Anheuser-Busch) and Tom Dundon’s (Carvana, Top Golf) backed PPA Tour, the new entity (the UPA) needs an emergency bridge loan of $10mm by January 15 to meet its…..
— Jillian Braverman (@jillybpb) January 2, 2025
Mixed Messages from the UPA
The timing of the loan request raised eyebrows, especially when the UPA simultaneously announced that 2024 was its “best year ever.” This statement, which was meant to highlight the success of the PPA Tour and MLP, seems contradictory given the financial troubles now facing the sport.
Uncertainty Surrounds Future of MLP
At this time, there is no clear plan from the UPA’s top investors or leadership on how they intend to secure the loan by the January 15 deadline. The pickleball world is now left waiting to see if the sport’s major financial backers will step in to keep the operations afloat.
The outcome of this financial challenge will have a significant impact on the future of Major League Pickleball and its role in the growing pickleball industry. If the loan is not secured, the sport may face setbacks, despite its rising popularity. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether MLP can continue its momentum or if this crisis will hinder its growth.
News in Brief: Major League Pickleball’s Financial Troubles
Major League Pickleball (MLP) faces a financial crisis, needing a $10 million emergency loan by January 15 to stay operational. This follows its 2024 merger with the PPA Tour, forming the UPA. Despite claiming 2024 as its best year, the UPA’s financial troubles raise concerns about the sport’s future.
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