The United Pickleball Association (UPA), overseeing the Carvana PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball, has named George Killebrew as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Killebrew, who has consulted with the PPA Tour since October 2023, will now officially lead the Sponsorship Sales, On-Site Revenue (ticket sales and amateur registrations), and Sponsorship Activation teams.
“I have been consulting with the PPA Tour and its leadership since October, and I am blown away by the potential in this fast-growing sport,” said Killebrew. Already, we are experiencing double digit growth in our revenue areas, and we are just at the very beginning. This Is an incredible American and global sports story unfolding right in front of our eyes and I am delighted to accept the role of CRO to work with Founder and CEO Connor Pardoe and his leadership team. I, too, am addicted to the sport along with the 40 million people that are also now playing the game.”
Connor Pardoe, the founder and CEO of the Carvana PPA Tour, seems to hold George in high regard, praising his expertise in developing business opportunities within both established and emerging sports.
“George brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in spearheading business opportunities in both established and emerging sports,” said Carvana PPA Tour Founder and CEO Connor Pardoe. “His work to this point has been instrumental in guiding a path forward, and his continued involvement in a permanent position will be exceedingly valuable in helping grow the UPA and pickleball as a whole.”
During his 20-year tenure with the Mavericks, Killebrew served as one of Mark Cuban’s chief business officers, contributing to the team’s consistent ranking among the NBA‘s top revenue generators.
As Major League Rugby Commissioner, George Killebrew achieved substantial growth by introducing new expansion teams and boosting sponsorship revenue to over $1 million within his inaugural year. He solidified MLR’s presence by securing a comprehensive TV contract with Fox Sports, guaranteeing extensive coverage across FOX National, FS1, and FS2, including broadcasting the Finals. Killebrew’s strategic initiatives propelled MLR into a prominent position within the sports broadcasting landscape. His collaborative efforts with MLR Ownership and USA Rugby led to the United States winning the bid to host the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup for the first time.
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