Apollo and Tom Dundon Inject $225 Million into Pickleball Inc. Ecosystem

Pickleball Inc., the parent organization for the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP), has announced a $225 million capital injection from Apollo Sports Capital and Dundon Capital Partners. This funding brings the total investment in the entity to $315 million, reflecting a growing institutional appetite for emerging sports assets. The investment facilitates the creation of a comprehensive 'pickleball ecosystem.' By rolling up various assets, the company now controls a vertically integrated platform encompassing professional play, consumer goods, and technology. The deal includes the acquisition of several assets previously held by billionaire Tom Dundon, including the equipment retailer Pickleball Central, the software platform PickleballTournaments.com, and court installer Just Courts. Financial performance for the consolidated entity is robust, with combined business verticals reporting revenues exceeding $140 million in 2025. Specifically, the MLP and PPA Tour generated $60 million in top-line revenue and $30 million in sponsorships in 2025, with projections rising to $74 million for 2026. With over 24 million U.S. players as of 2025, the sport's rapid growth is attracting significant private equity interest. The new funds will be directed toward scalable opportunities in media, content, and the development of infrastructure to support fast-growing events, signaling a transition from an emerging hobby to a tier-one American sport.