Major League Pickleball Announces New Ownership Groups Comprised of Dynamic Leaders Across Sports, Business, and Entertainment Including: Patrick Mahomes, Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios, Devin Booker, Jeremy Lin, Larry Fitzgerald, Justin Verlander, Mesut Ӧzil, Chris Evert, Heidi Klum, Eva Longoria, Kate Upton, Dierks Bentley, Michael Phelps, and Mark Cuban

New owners reflect MLP by Margaritaville’s strategy of attracting a diverse community to pickleball and reaching different audiences and markets.

Teams will start the 2023 season in MLP Challenger Level and have revealed team names, locations, and rosters; With the first pick of the draft, the D.C. Pickleball Team selected 10-time ATP Tour titleist Sam Querrey, who begins his journey into pro pickleball.

AUSTIN, TX., Dec. 20, 2022 – MLP by Margaritaville (MLP) announced today new ownership groups for its expanded 24-team league. The owners join the league as it approaches a transformative year bringing expertise and experience across entertainment, media, and sports. From Super Bowl Champion Patrick Mahomes to 4-time tennis Grand Slam Champion Naomi Osaka, from supermodel and cultural icon Heidi Klum to award-winning actress Eva Longoria, from World Cup Champion Mesut Ӧzil to NBA game-changer Jeremy Lin, from tennis Hall of Famer Chris Evert to “Entourage” creator Doug Ellin - the new owners bring an array of experience that is unrivaled in professional sports ownership.

“The diversity in the backgrounds and expertise of our fantastic new owners is an incredible asset as we aggressively expand Major League Pickleball to reach more fans than ever,” said MLP by Margaritaville Interim CEO Brian Levine. “We always say pickleball brings people together, and this roster of leaders from across a wide variety of industries is a strong testament to that philosophy.”

The owners selected their teams on Monday in the MLP Challenger Level draft with full rosters, team names, and locations revealed today.

In 2023, these 12 teams will compete in the Challenger Level in the first half of the year and switch to the Premier Level in the second half - the previously-announced group of 12 teams will start in the Premier Level and switch to the Challenger Level on the same timeline. All 24 teams start on equal footing in 2023 and will be fighting for pole position for the 2024 season, which will bring a promotion and relegation system to major U.S. sports for the first time.

With the expansion to 24 teams, MLP is offering up to $5 million in prize money and payouts to its players in 2023.

With the first pick of the Challenger Level draft, the D.C. Pickleball Club, owned in part by Eva Longoria, Mesut Ӧzil, Kate Upton and Justin Verlander, selected Sam Querrey. Querrey, who recently retired from professional tennis after winning 10 ATP Tour titles and reaching a Wimbledon semifinal, will start his journey into pro pickleball with MLP.

The full Challenger Level team names, rosters and owners are as follows:

About the 2023 MLP by Margaritaville Calendar:

The 2023 MLP by Margaritaville calendar will feature six events across Arizona, California, Florida, and Georgia. The year will be divided into two “seasons” of three events – in the first season, 12 teams will compete in the MLP Premier Level (the first 48 drafted players) and 12 will compete in the MLP Challenger Level (the next 48 drafted players), with rosters consisting of two men and two women. The teams will then flip levels and re-draft players for the second season.

Results for the 2023 year across both seasons and Levels will place the Top 12 performing teams into the higher-tier MLP Premier Level and the Bottom 12 performing teams into the up-and-comer MLP Challenger Level for 2024, with a promotion and relegation system in place to allow for team mobility.

The stops for 2023 Major League Pickleball seasons are:

● Jan. 26-29 – Mesa, AZ – Legacy Sports USA

● March 23-26 – Daytona Beach, FL – Pictona at Holly Hill

● June 15-18 – San Clemente, CA – Life Time Rancho San Clemente

● Season One Championship: Monday night, June 19

● Sept. 21-24 – Atlanta, GA – Life Time Peachtree Corners

● Nov. 2-5 – La Quinta, CA – La Quinta Resort & Club

● Dec. 7-10 – San Clemente, CA – Life Time Rancho San Clemente

● Season Two Championship: Monday night, December 11

About Major League Pickleball

Major League Pickleball (MLP) is the premier team league and the standard-bearer for the fastest-growing sport in the United States. MLP is committed to perpetuating the sport's larger role in society and permeating every facet of pickleball’s business, marketing, and community relations. With iconic team owners, a co-ed team format, an innovative draft, easy to understand scoring, groundbreaking broadcast quality, and the highest prize money events in pro pickleball, MLP’s goal is to elevate and grow the sport in everything it does. For more information on Major League Pickleball, visit MajorLeaguePickleball.net and follow Major League Pickleball on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

About Margaritaville

Margaritaville, a state of mind since 1977, is a global lifestyle brand inspired by Jimmy Buffett, whose songs evoke a passion for tropical escape and relaxation. Margaritaville features over 25 lodging locations and over 20 additional projects in the pipeline positioned across a variety of full-service and boutique hotel and resort brands, branded real estate, premium RV destinations, and gaming properties, all complemented by an extensive suite of food and beverage concepts, including Margaritaville Restaurant, award-winning JWB Prime Steak and Seafood, 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill, and LandShark Bar & Grill. Inspired hotel brands with high-quality institutional partners include Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts, Compass by Margaritaville, Margaritaville Beach House, Margaritaville St. Somewhere, and the all-inclusive product, Margaritaville Island Reserve. Further elevating experiences, Margaritaville’s branded real estate includes Latitude Margaritaville, “55 and better” active adult brand; Margaritaville Cottages, Villas and Residences; One Particular Harbour Margaritaville; and Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham.

The newest brand additions to Margaritaville’s properties includes the rapidly-growing Camp Margaritaville RV Resorts and Margaritaville at Sea, which debuted in 2022 with its first ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. Additionally, consumers can escape every day through a collection of lifestyle products including apparel, footwear, frozen concoction makers, home décor, a satellite radio station, and more.

More than 20 million travelers and consumers every year change their latitude and attitude with Margaritaville. For more information, visit www.margaritaville.com and follow Margaritaville on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media Contact:

Jeff Watson

jwatson@revolutionworld.com | 817-944-2298