Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws in opposition to the New Orleans Saints through the second quarter on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Chris Graythen | Getty Photographs Sport | Getty Photographs
Seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion Tom Brady and Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Famer Kim Clijsters are the most recent high-profile athletes to affix the pickleball craze.
Main League Pickleball introduced on Wednesday that Brady and Clijsters are headlining their latest possession group to purchase an enlargement crew, which can start taking part in in 2023.
Pickleball, America’s fastest-growing sport, has attracted different high-profile homeowners, together with NBA champions LeBron James, Draymond Inexperienced and Kevin Love and Tremendous Bowl champ Drew Brees, in addition to billionaire investor and Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry and former tennis star James Blake.
The Brady and Clijsters group is led by Knighthead Capital. It additionally consists of RBC bond saleswoman Callie Simpkins and JPMorgan monetary advisor Kaitlyn Kerr, who will function its normal supervisor. The enlargement crew is ready to be 50% female-owned.
The brand new possession group will likely be a part of Main League Pickleball’s newest progress plan, which incorporates increasing to 16 groups from 12, and doubling the variety of occasions to 6. Prize cash and payouts are additionally anticipated to develop and surpass $2 million.
“What actually shines by in working with these wonderful people is their ardour for the game,” the league’s founder, Steve Kuhn, stated in regards to the new group.
Monetary phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed. In September, Anne Worcester, Main League Pickleball’s strategic advisor, informed CNBC that demand for groups has grown exponentially and that costs are within the seven-figure vary.
Pickleball had greater than 4.8 million gamers in america final 12 months, in accordance with the 2022 Sports activities & Health Business Affiliation. Kuhn stated the league’s objective is to achieve 40 million pickleball gamers by 2030.
Kim Clijsters of Belgium in motion in opposition to Caroline Wozniacki (not seen) of Denmark throughout Expo 2020 Dubai Tennis Week on the Expo Sports activities Enviornment in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on February 19, 2022.
Waleed Zain | Anadolu Company | Getty Photographs
Brady began taking part in the game 4 years in the past with Knighthead Capital proprietor Tom Wagner, folks conversant in the matter stated. He usually performs together with his kids and has explored constructing a pickleball courtroom at his residence. Brady believes it is a good funding as he seems to be on the subsequent stage of his profession as an entrepreneur.
Clijsters says she picked up pickleball after retiring from tennis and performs commonly together with her enterprise companions. She has but to play with Brady.
“We all know that he likes to play pickleball and may be very aggressive,” she informed CNBC. “We won’t wait to get a recreation in and see the place everyone’s ranges at.”
The Belgian tennis star says she believes pickleball is an efficient funding due to its accessibility, and she or he loves the truth that women and men can play collectively.
“For me, taking part in tennis with my husband and my children shouldn’t be that simple, proper? However after I play pickleball we are able to all have a enjoyable recreation,” she stated.
