Major League Pickleball Owners Come Together to Acknowledge Founder
Major League Pickleball (MLP) today announced that Steve Kuhn will become a minority owner in the majority of its teams. Kuhn founded Major League Pickleball in 2021 and has since been an innovative leader and steward of the league, shepherding it to explosive growth in just two years. Last week, MLP and the PPA Tour officially announced plans to merge and create a unified pickleball organization. Kuhn will share the new team shares with his longtime management team and advisors.
The new combined organization will provide players, fans, and sponsors with the benefits of a streamlined schedule and single entity overseeing the two still-distinct brands. The new holding company will provide players and sponsors great confidence and opportunity in the future of professional pickleball.
Kuhn was the visionary behind creating MLP’s innovative team-based, coed league format that brings thrilling competitions to fans throughout the regular season and championships.
“Steve is the visionary who knew before all of us the power of pickleball,” said Gary Vaynerchuk, Owner of MLP’s New Jersey 5s. “He was the innovator who helmed the league as it has experienced significant growth in the last two years.”
“Steve’s foresight really professionalized and commercialized the game that we all love for athletes and fans,“ said Rich Kleiman, Owner of MLP’s Brooklyn Aces. “We are delighted to have him as a partner in these teams and our GMs are all going to fight over his advice.”
*article is courtesy of Major League Pickleball