The Seattle Pioneers play the Los Angeles Mad Drops in the Premier League mixed doubles competition. The Seattle Pioneers play the Los Angeles Mad Drops in the Premier League mixed doubles competition.
Source: Major League Pickleball
There’s trouble in pickleball paradise.
The Professional Pickleball Association and Major League Pickleball are now at odds after announcing in November that they would join forces and merge team competition leagues.
The PPA told CNBC that MLP has not yet signed the partnership deal they verbally agreed to 10 months ago. PPA owner Tom Dundon had agreed with MLP owner Steve Kuhn to run the joint league using the MLP format and brand. The terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed at the time.
Connor Pardoe told CNBC that he didn’t know Steve Kuhn’s intentions the whole time. I don’t think he was trying to gain access to players in order to have a better position later. “
Pardoe says MLP executives are now radio silent. He said PPA would consider litigation if MLP were to improperly poach players. Kuhn said that “numerous false representations of reality” are taking place. He did not provide specifics. These deals also include an off-season for players and increased financial security. Kuhn said that he would also continue to elevate the sport and help it grow. Kuhn said that if the PPA was willing to pay more to their players, he would be willing to discuss aligning himself with the league. MLP announced in July that Julio DePietro would be taking over as CEO. He took over negotiations of this deal from Zubin Mehta, who resigned from the board.
The competing leagues have had a complicated relationship.
The PPA historically has acted as a tour-style league for the best players in the world. Kuhn first introduced team pickleball two years ago. Since then, the two leagues have operated independently.