Ryan Harwood and Gary Vee: Ryan Harwood and Gary Vaynerchuk, also known as Gary Vee, are well-known for their business acumen and entrepreneurial ventures. But their investment journey into Major League Pickleball (MLP) has a unique and somewhat spontaneous origin story, one that started with an unexpected call and a leap of faith.
From Tennis to Pickleball: The Backstory
Harwood, a former tennis player, was approached by Amir Delic, a tennis contact, who needed marketing help for Major League Pickleball. At the time, Harwood and Vaynerchuk were unfamiliar with MLP. During their conversation, Delic casually mentioned that MLP was planning to sell team ownership. This caught Harwood and Vee’s attention, sparking an idea. Harwood had long harbored dreams of owning the Knicks, while Vaynerchuk’s ambition to own the New York Jets is well-known. In that moment, owning a Pickleball team seemed like the perfect entry point.
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The Bold Decision
Without much deliberation or typical due diligence, the decision to invest came swiftly. “Gary says, ‘Let’s do it,’” Harwood recalls. That single conversation led to one of the boldest investment moves the duo had made, with both seeing potential in the rapidly growing sport. They quickly purchased a team, marking the beginning of their foray into the world of professional Pickleball.
From Marketing Support to Team Ownership
Initially, the plan was to assist MLP with marketing strategies, but that quickly evolved into something much bigger. Their interest in ownership wasn’t just about investing in a new sports venture—it was about being part of something that had the potential to disrupt the sports world. The combination of Pickleball’s rising popularity and the entrepreneurial spirit that Vaynerchuk and Harwood embody led them to believe in the long-term potential of their new investment.
A Growing Passion for the Game
Since their impulsive entry into the world of Pickleball, both Vaynerchuk and Harwood have become staunch supporters of the sport. The experience, while unplanned, has turned into a venture they are deeply passionate about. For two entrepreneurs with ambitions of owning major sports franchises, their ownership of an MLP team serves as both a strategic investment and a personal fulfillment of their love for sports.
News in Brief: Ryan Harwood and Gary Vee
Ryan Harwood and Gary Vaynerchuk’s investment journey into Major League Pickleball (MLP) began with an unexpected call from tennis contact Amir Delic, who mentioned MLP’s team ownership opportunities. Intrigued by the idea, Harwood and Vaynerchuk quickly decided to invest, viewing it as a unique entry point into sports ownership. Initially intending to provide marketing support, their involvement evolved into team ownership, reflecting their belief in Pickleball’s disruptive potential. Their impulsive decision has ignited a genuine passion for the sport, combining their entrepreneurial spirit with a love for sports, fulfilling their dreams of owning a professional franchise.
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