Major League Pickleball Announces 2024 Premier Level Teams
Ahead of Closing its Merger with PPA Tour, MLP Team Owners Commit to Meaningful Investment in Their Teams via Dutch Auction to Determine League Levels
Major League Pickleball (MLP by Margaritaville) today announced the 2024 year-long breakdown by level for its 24 franchises, who will be evenly split between the Premier and Challenger Levels.
In a unique framework, MLP used a Dutch Auction process, with the teams placing the 12 highest bids joining Premier Level for 2024. The remaining 12 teams will participate in the Challenger Level in 2024.
“Through this process, we are seeing the unwavering commitment and investment of MLP’s owners – some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders – as sponsorship revenue, audience viewership, and franchise values all continue to grow,” said Bruce Popko, MLP Chief Operating Officer. “This financial commitment from team owners is another vital step in the continued collaboration with our key stakeholders, MLP’s owners and players, to construct a thriving professional pickleball business for years to come.”
Major League Pickleball teams are now trading at eight-figure valuations. To ensure this trend continues as nationwide participation and interest in the sport continue to increase rapidly, team owners are investing far more into their teams and the financing of the league. This includes subsidizing player salaries of their coed teams, with equal pay and playing time for female and male athletes.
2024 MLP Premier Teams
- Arizona (AZ) Drive
- Columbus Sliders
- Dallas Pickleball Club
- D.C. Pickleball Team
- Los Angeles (LA) Mad Drops
- New Jersey (NJ) 5s
- New York (NY) Hustlers
- Orlando Squeeze
- Seattle Pioneers
- St. Louis Shock
- Texas Ranchers
- Utah Black Diamonds
2024 MLP Challenger Teams
- Atlanta Bouncers
- Austin Pickleballers
- Bay Area Breakers
- Brooklyn Aces
- California BLQK Bears
- Chicago Slice
- Florida Smash
- Frisco Pandas
- Las Vegas Night Owls
- Miami Pickleball Club
- Milwaukee Mashers
- SoCal Hard Eights
All teams will play up to 40 regular season matches across their eight scheduled regular season events (individual team schedules will vary across MLP’s 15 regular season events) and participate in the Mid-Season Championship (July 11-14 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) during the 2024 MLP schedule.
In both Premier and Challenger, the top six teams will qualify for the season-ending MLP Playoffs.
The top four Challenger teams in 2024 – determined by season-long results – will be promoted to Premier for 2025.
Additional information about the 2024 MLP season, including individual team schedules and the player acquisition process, will be shared shortly.