Major League Pickleball’s Remarkable Growth: A 2025 Season Analysis
A New Era in Professional Pickleball
The landscape of professional pickleball has undergone a dramatic transformation since the merger between Major League Pickleball (MLP) and the PPA Tour in February 2024. The 2025 season has proven to be a watershed moment for the sport, with unprecedented growth across multiple metrics and expanding influence in the professional sports arena.
Breaking Down the Numbers
The league’s performance in 2025 has been nothing short of extraordinary, with significant growth across all key performance indicators. Most notably:
- Sponsorship revenue doubled compared to 2024
- Ticket sales increased by an impressive 84%
- Overall attendance saw a 37% boost across 50 event days
- Linear distribution hours doubled through national broadcasting partnerships
- PickleballTV witnessed a 141% increase in viewing minutes
- The official MLP YouTube channel experienced a 230% surge in views
- Social media engagement skyrocketed with a 407% growth in impressions
Digital Presence and Media Impact
The digital footprint of MLP has expanded dramatically, with YouTube views jumping from 2.6 million in 2023 to an impressive 9.6 million in 2025. Social media engagement has seen similar growth, with total impressions across platforms increasing from 46 million to over 117 million. These numbers reflect the growing popularity of the sport and its increasing mainstream appeal.
The New York Finals Showcase
The season culminated in a spectacular finals event at Wollman Rink in New York’s Central Park, which set several records:
- The CBS broadcast of Finals Match 1 between the New Jersey 5s and Columbus Sliders achieved the highest viewership in MLP history with 436,000 viewers
- The NYC event generated the highest ticket revenue in MLP history, surpassing the next-highest event by 79%
- Daily attendance averaged nearly 1,700 people, with two complete sellouts
- The event generated almost 1.5 million YouTube views over seven days
- Social media engagement reached nearly 20 million impressions
Team Valuations and Future Growth
The financial health of the league is reflected in recent team valuations:
- The LA Mad Drops set a new record with a $13 million valuation for a majority stake sale
- The Palm Beach Royals expansion franchise established a new benchmark with a $16 million valuation
Looking Ahead
The future looks bright for MLP, with the upcoming Edward Jones MLP Cup scheduled for October 31 to November 2 at Brookhaven Country Club. This event will be part of the 2025 Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships, further cementing the league’s position in professional sports.
Commissioner’s Perspective
MLP Commissioner Samin Odhwani reflected on the season’s success: “After a volatile and uncertain start, it’s incredible to look back and see what MLP has become and can do for the sport of pickleball when given the attention and resourcing it deserves. From the staff, to the team owners, to our leadership at MLP, we will look back on the 2025 season as the jumping off point for MLP to become one of the most prominent sports properties in America.”
Understanding the Impact
For those new to pickleball, these growth metrics represent more than just numbers – they signal the sport’s transformation from a recreational activity to a legitimate professional sport with mainstream appeal. The increased viewership, attendance, and financial investments demonstrate that pickleball is no longer just a casual pastime but a serious contender in the professional sports landscape.
With the 2026 league calendar and event schedule soon to be announced, the pickleball community eagerly anticipates the next chapter in this rapidly evolving sport. The success of the 2025 season has set a new baseline for growth and excellence in professional pickleball.
