The founder of Major League Pickleball is seeking to make the most of the sport’s “explosive growth.” 

The founder of Major League Pickleball is seeking to make the most of the sport’s “explosive growth.” As America’s fastest growing sport, with over 36M people picking it up last year, the founder, Steve Kuhn is making moves to make sure the sport gets the hype it deserves. He explains that “today, when Kevin Durant, Lebron James, and Tom Brady say [pickleball is] cool, I think that changes everybody’s opinion.” Kuhn has helped capitalize on the growth of the sport and the pro league with sponsorships, media deals, and expansion teams, with teams being sold for up to $10M this year compared to 100K last year; he also is trying to make the game more accessible and easier to learn for beginners, especially aiming to appeal younger players. YPulse research shows that any brand can tap into young consumers interest in sports through content, collabs, etc., so brands should be looking to hop on the pickleball wave as it continues to take off. (CNBC)