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Mark Cuban, owner of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Dallas Mavericks, has been announced as the first team owner in the Vibe Pickleball League.
The new competition, which is connected to the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour, will start play in 2023 with six teams, each with a roster of male and female athletes.
The league added that its teams will be ‘independently owned’ and managed by ‘notable names and prominent figures’.
New ownership groups for the remaining five teams will be announced leading up to the team draft this December.
Vibe Pickleball League is set to televise matches throughout the 2023 season in conjunction with the PPA Tour, which has partnerships with ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and Tennis Channel, among others.
“Just like millions of other Americans, I’ve been following pickleball over the past few years, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to invest in the fastest growing game in the country,” said Cuban. “Vibe presents an unparalleled opportunity to launch a new pro league that will feature the best-of-the-best in a highly competitive setting. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Connor Pardoe, PPA Tour commissioner and chief executive, added: “The Vibe Pickleball League is going to be a must-watch as it will showcase the world’s best pickleball in an exciting team format.
“With our top players, renowned ownership group and top-tier broadcasting partners, the league will reimagine how people enjoy and experience team pickleball.”
Cuban is the latest high-profile investor to get involved with pickleball. LeBron James and Tom Brady, icons of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Football League (NFL) respectively, are among those to have bought teams in the rival Major League Pickleball (MLP).
