Major League Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing pro sports in the United States, prompting big sports figures to invest in the league.
Tuesday, major beer brand Anheuser-Busch joined the party with a huge announcement.
According to Jessica Golden of CNBC, Anheuser Busch will purchase a Major League Pickleball team for the 2023 season.
While the purchase price wasn’t disclosed, a league representative told CNBC the going rate for a team is in seven figures.
Notable NBA icons such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant have already invested in the growing league, along with NFL stars Tom Brady and Drew Brees.
A representative from Anheuser-Busch issued a statement to CNBC on the announcement of the ownership stake, saying that they are excited about the potential growth of the league.
“We love the accessibility of pickleball and we think it’s an amazing opportunity for us to gain relevance and excitement for our brands,” said Anheuser-Busch head of U.S. sports marketing and partnerships Mark Davis.
This is certainly huge for the MLP, as more eyes and financial stability will certainly be added by bringing in a prominent brand like Anheuser-Busch as an investor.
“Anheuser-Busch is one of the most impactful professional sport sponsors in the U.S. To have them join as an ownership partner is an incredible opportunity for Major League Pickleball,” said MLP founder and CEO Steve Kuhn.
The league certainly has some big plans to expand moving forward. It will notably be shifting from 12 to 16 teams next year, along with raising prize money and payouts.
[CNBC.com]
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.