Pickleball, a fast-paced paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, is gaining popularity across America. With a whopping 37 million players in 2022, the sport is quickly making its way from the backyards to the championship courts. ESPN’s decision to air the inaugural Pickleball Slam featuring four tennis legends may be the push the sport needs to go pro.
The Pickleball Slam – A New Era for Pickleball?
The decision to broadcast the Pickleball Slam exclusively through ESPN is a game-changer for the sport. The Slam will take place on April 2nd in Hollywood, Florida, just before the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. It features four renowned tennis legends: Andy Roddick, Michael Chang, John McEnroe, and Andre Agassi. These legends will compete in both singles and doubles matches for a $1 million purse.
Not only that, but tennis commentators Chris Fowler and Patrick McEnroe will call broadcasts live. They’ll join two pickleball experts in the booth, exposing viewers to exciting gameplay and providing expert commentary on every point.
The Future of Pickleball as a Professional Sport
It’s no secret that pickleball fans are relentlessly pushing for their favorite paddle-sport to go pro. Even celebrity investors such as LeBron James, Heidi Klum, and Patrick Mahomes have shown interest in joining the bandwagon.
While some tennis champions like Andy Roddick remain wary of making pickleball a professional spectator-friendly sport, Horizon Sports & Experiences has partnered with InsideOut Sports + Entertainment to bring about an inaugural Pickleball Slam for pickle enthusiasts everywhere.
This partnership comes amid ongoing efforts to revolutionize pickleball and make it a viable spectator sport. As an emerging sport with enormous potential, Pickleball founder Steve Kuhn believes that “it will be easily a top five sport in the next five years in terms of viewership.” He believes it will challenge major leagues like MLS, Major League Baseball, and NHL.
Pickleball’s Growing Popularity
Pickleball is becoming increasingly popular all over the country, so much so that many tennis facilities are considering changing their courts to accommodate the sport. The Wollman Rink in Central Park will even be transformed into 14 pickleball courts this spring.
Furthermore, the Pickleball Slam wasn’t just created for entertainment. It aims to raise $100,000 for a charity of the tennis legends’ choice. It’s also worth noting that the event is part of a five-event deal with the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and could expand to other locations in the future.
Andre Agassi Participating in Pickleball Slam
One tennis legend who’s taking part in the inaugural Pickleball Slam is none other than Andre Agassi, former tennis champion and Olympic gold medalist. Additionally, Agassi is also involved in educating youth through the Turner-Agassi Education Facilities Fund. This fund creates charter schools in underserved communities.
With an impressive lineup of tennis legends competing against each other in pickleball matches, the Pickleball Slam has quickly become a must-see sports event. It aims to bring attention to the paddle sport and could lead to more mainstream television exposure as well as a larger following.
In conclusion, ESPN’s exclusive broadcast of The Pickleball Slam is set to shine a spotlight on this fast-growing sport as it takes its first steps towards becoming recognized as a professional sport. While some remain skeptical about it being attractive for consumption by audiences as they typically expect action-packed gameplay, others believe pickleball’s unique combination of tennis, ping pong, and badminton makes it genuinely exciting to watch. Regardless, the future of pickleball as a professional and spectator sport will undoubtedly continue to grab the attention of its growing fan base in America and beyond.
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