Apollo Sports and Tom Dundon Invest $225M in Pickleball

• Total investment in Pickleball Inc. now reaches $315 million, with the merged business generating over $140 million in 2025 revenue across professional tours, equipment sales, and tournament software
• The deal consolidates multiple pickleball assets including Pickleball Central (equipment retailer founded in 2006), PicklePlay tournament software, and PickleCourt installation services under one umbrella
• Professional pickleball tours (MLP and PPA) generated $30 million in sponsorship revenue and $60 million in combined revenue for 2025, projecting growth to $74 million in 2026

Summary: Apollo Sports and Tom Dundon Invest $225M in Pickleball

Pickleball Inc., the parent company of Major League Pickleball (MLP) and the PPA Tour, has secured a record $225 million investment from Apollo Sports Capital and Dundon Capital Partners, owned by billionaire Tom Dundon. This brings total investment in the company to $315 million and values Pickleball Inc. at $750 million.

Key Investment Details:

The deal consolidates multiple pickleball assets under Pickleball Inc., creating what the company calls the sport's largest ecosystem. Assets acquired from Dundon's portfolio include Pickleball Central (leading equipment retailer founded in 2006), tournament management software, and a court installation company.

Financial Performance:

• Combined business verticals generated over $140 million in revenue in 2025
• MLP and PPA Tour achieved $30 million in sponsorship revenue and $60 million in combined revenue for 2025
• Projected 2026 combined revenue: $74 million

Market Growth:

Pickleball has experienced explosive growth with 24 million U.S. players participating in 2025, making it the fastest-growing sport in America over the past three years.

Strategic Objectives:

The capital will fund expansion into media, content development, events infrastructure, and operational integration across all levels of play. The goal is to create a unified platform combining professional pickleball, consumer goods, technology, and media.

Dundon, who also owns stakes in the Portland Trail Blazers and Carolina Hurricanes, along with the Pardoe family, will retain majority ownership. MLP Commissioner Samin Odhwani emphasized that pickleball is transitioning from an emerging sport to becoming "the next tier one sport in America."