A historic event has just occurred in the American sports world, according to CNBC on February 29, 2024,

Major League Pickleball (MLP) and Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) have completed a long-awaited merger. This merger not only ended months of fighting and negotiations between the two major organizations, but also painted a new blueprint for the future of professional badminton.

The merger agreement was reached thanks to joint investments from private equity firms such as SC Holdings, Washington D.C. Pik team owner Al Tylis, PPA Tour owner Tom Dundon, the Pardo family, and existing MLP team owners, totaling up to $75 million. The injection of this capital heralds a new peak in the commercial and professional development of badminton.

The merged new entity will integrate the resources and advantages of the two organizations. Although the PPA Tour and MLP will retain their respective brands and game formats, they will work together to promote the global development of the sport of badminton. The merged move not only provides professional players with more game opportunities and higher bonuses, but also makes fans look forward to more exciting and diverse matches. The new company has signed over 150 badminton players.

The PPA tour is conducted in the form of individual elimination matches, while MLP adopts a team competition format, with different fan groups. The newly merged organization is expected to increase the total prize money by nearly 250% in this year's events, which is undoubtedly a great encouragement for badminton players.

Pickleball, as a sport that combines entertainment and competitiveness, is rapidly becoming popular worldwide. Through this merger, the sports industry can not only integrate resources and optimize schedules, but also provide a more unified and professional platform for players, fans, and sponsors. This is of great significance for enhancing the international influence of badminton and promoting it as a global sport.