Chicago Business Leaders Join Forces with Sports and Entertainment All-Stars to Bring an Expansion Major League Pickleball Team to Chicago
CHICAGO, IL. Dec. 20, 2022 – An investment group, led by Ron Saslow’s Thirty-5 Capital, has bought a Major League Pickleball (MLP) team to be known as the “Chicago Slice.” Other owners of the team include supermodel/entertainer Heidi Klum, “Entourage” creator Doug Ellin; internet personality David Dobrik; Grand Slam Champions Chris Evert, Gigi Fernández, Lindsay Davenport and Tracy Austin; 2x World Series Champion David Justice; Grammy-nominated guitarist/singer/songwriter Joe Bonamassa, Tennis Channel founder and Kodak Motion Picture President Steve Bellamy and many prominent Chicago business leaders including Tom Ricketts, Andy Mills, Jeff Aronin, Craig Bondy, Ted Foxman; and more. For the full list of owners, visit: ChiSlice.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
“We are extremely excited to bring a Major League Pickleball team to Chicago, backed by a fun group of enthusiastic owners,” said Saslow. “We have seen the astounding rate at which this sport has grown, both at the grassroots and professional levels, and we are thrilled for the opportunity to continue that momentum in a tremendous sports town like Chicago.”
The 2023 MLP format will see the Chicago Slice compete in two seasons from January to December. They will play their first three events (Mesa, AZ; Daytona Beach, FL; and San Clemente, CA) in the Challenger Level, and will feature a roster of four of the sport’s up and coming stars. In July, the Slice will re-draft in the Premier Level for the second half of the year and create a roster made up of two men and two women who are at the top of the pickleball world. Results across both Levels will place the Slice into either the Premier or Challenger Level in 2024, with a promotion/relegation system in place for the first time in major American sports.
The expansion team continues to set MLP up for their largest season in 2023, as the league grows from 12 to 24 teams, doubles events from three to six, and increases player prize money and payouts to a possible $5M.
For more information on Major League Pickleball, visit MajorLeaguePickleball.net and follow Major League Pickleball on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
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 Thirty-5 Capital
Thirty-5 Capital is a private equity firm with the mission of helping early stage and family businesses grow through the strategic infusion of capital and hands-on leadership.
Thirty-5 Capital holds a robust portfolio in sports innovation and technology companies, including United Pickleball Properties, LLC (“UPP”). UPP owns ProXR Pickleball and was formed for the purpose of investing in pickleball facilities, merchandise companies and other pickleball assets. The Thirty-5 Capital team has a long history of working together to drive culture and accelerate the growth of business through strategic leadership, innovation, data analytics, and creative thinking. Our fundamental belief in employee engagement and growth leads to an empowered workforce achieving long-term partnerships and lasting results.