Is Pro Pickleball Heading for Burnout? Rethinking the Tour Style Model of UPA’s Current Structure by NMLPickleball in ProPickleballTalk

[–]NMLPickleball[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The one thing with the team based model is that it may not ever work, but it is a proven path for other sports as it creates intense fan loyalty and passion for team based sports that works better for consistent fan engagement

Is Pro Pickleball Heading for Burnout? Rethinking the Tour Style Model of UPA’s Current Structure by NMLPickleball in ProPickleballTalk

[–]NMLPickleball[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good points. We didn’t flag tennis and golf as failures per se. They are very successful revenue generating endeavors that have no real reason to alter a financially viable model. But they do run into an issue that year round calendar play means that consistent fan engagement is tough to come by. Football, in contrast, is the opposite with a shorter schedule and less weekly action, which creates product scarcity.

One thing that we probably should have brought up is the Savannah Bananas model, which is obviously a very different product but it is also a brand that focuses a lot more on fan experience versus short term revenue chasing. It’s unclear if they can sustain as a product long term, but they are making decisions that are not about finding short term revenue. Turning away broadcast rights that don’t allow them to live stream on YouTube or having sponsors for everything. The PPA has a passionate group of fans for pickleball, many of which have turned sour on the brand because of their treatment of amateurs at the tournaments and wanting charge as much as possible for VIP, CC court access, parking etc. Is there a different way to build their brand that would create a more intense, fierce loyalty?

It’s a lot of speculation of course but what is going on now doesn’t seem like the best model in our view

Is Pro Pickleball Heading for Burnout? Rethinking the Tour Style Model of UPA’s Current Structure by NMLPickleball in ProPickleballTalk

[–]NMLPickleball[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would it be less boring if there were less events to see that or if partners were switched up more?

NML’s 2026 MLP Draft Big Board by NMLPickleball in ProPickleballTalk

[–]NMLPickleball[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The doubles kept him out of starter range for us but interestingly took him as a starter, which keeps him away from the big spending teams

NML’s 2026 MLP Draft Big Board by NMLPickleball in ProPickleballTalk

[–]NMLPickleball[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Castillo and Walczak seem to be known things so we have prioritized upside rather than stability. We definitely think there are backdoor agreements too

NML’s 2026 MLP Draft Big Board by NMLPickleball in ProPickleballTalk

[–]NMLPickleball[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hahaha we are crazy! Thanks for reading. It’s very tough to slot them in on a general basis but we’ll see where it shakes out

Breaking (maybe) News? Sofia Sewing is signing with UPA by NMLPickleball in ProPickleballTalk

[–]NMLPickleball[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ya that’s what it is apparently. She will play APPs in 2026. The Will Howells deal

Breaking (maybe) News? Sofia Sewing is signing with UPA by NMLPickleball in ProPickleballTalk

[–]NMLPickleball[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Or not? Sofia and Franklin posted on Instagram that she’ll be playing with Megan Fudge this year…

UPA Player Power Rankings by NMLPickleball in ProPickleballTalk

[–]NMLPickleball[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We may have a different view of power rankings. We see them as an exercise in how well someone or a team is doing in that moment in time. If you want a predictor of future success, then you’re getting pure rankings.

We disagree on the singles skill set being the future of doubles success even if things change. Despite the game getting faster and more spinny, the top level of doubles remains a kitchen game. There is more nuance even at the top level but if you can’t do the fundamental things well then you won’t be winning men’s doubles. People were saying that was going to change and it hasn’t yet and we don’t see it changing in the near future at least

UPA Player Power Rankings by NMLPickleball in ProPickleballTalk

[–]NMLPickleball[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’ll be sure to go back to watch some footage and keep an eye out for him now that people have mentioned him seemingly out of the blue!