Major League Pickleball Finals Viewership: Major League Pickleball (MLP) reached a major milestone on Saturday, August 23, 2025, when the Finals between the Columbus Sliders and the New Jersey 5s became the second-most-watched professional pickleball match of all time. The game, broadcast live on CBS, drew an average of 433,000 viewers, according to Nielsen.
Match Outshines Other Sports Broadcasts
The CBS broadcast showed the first match of a best-of-three Finals series. It gained more viewers than other national sports events over the weekend, including LIV Golf on Saturday, the LPGA on Sunday, and Professional Bull Riders (PBR) events on both Saturday and Sunday.
Venue and Atmosphere
The Finals were held at CityPickle at Wollman Rink in New York City’s Central Park. The games were played in front of sellout crowds all weekend. The event marked the end of the 2025 MLP season, which included 10 regular season tournaments, a Mid-Season Tournament, and two rounds of playoffs between April and August.
Season Growth and Fan Engagement
League officials reported strong growth during the 2025 season. Sponsor revenue more than doubled compared to last year. Ticket sales rose by 28 percent. Social media impressions went up by 277 percent, while YouTube views climbed 156 percent. Minutes watched on Pickleballtv rose by 105 percent, and total TV broadcast hours increased by 83 percent across national, regional, and local partners.
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Why It Matters
The strong TV ratings and rising fan interest show that pickleball is becoming a bigger part of mainstream sports. With more sponsors, higher ticket sales, and greater media coverage, Major League Pickleball is on track to grow even further in the coming years.
News in Brief: Major League Pickleball Finals Viewership
The Major League Pickleball Finals on CBS drew 433,000 viewers, making it the second-most watched pro pickleball match ever. The Columbus Sliders faced the New Jersey 5s at CityPickle in Central Park before sold-out crowds. MLP reported major growth in revenue, ticket sales, and online engagement this season.
ALSO READ: Underdog Columbus Sliders Stun Top Seeds to Capture 2025 Major League Pickleball Crown