Major League Pickleball’s Brooklyn Aces have recently made some significant additions to their roster, bringing in notable investors such as Drake and Michael B. Jordan. These new investors, who hail from various industries including technology, finance, business, sports, and entertainment, aim to enhance the team’s brand presence, foster stronger connections within the pickleball community, and provide a boost as they head into the upcoming season. The terms of their investments have not been disclosed.
Joining Drake and Michael B. Jordan as co-owners are Steve Stoute, Founder and CEO of UnitedMasters and Translation; Mary Cannon and Erica Desai, co-founders of CityPickle; Aryeh Bourkoff, Chairman and CEO of LionTree, along with managing director Alex Michael; Kelly Sawyer Patricof, co-CEO of Baby2Baby; Jamie Patricof, a producer and the founder of Hunting Lane; Darius Fisher, CEO of Status Labs, and CMO Jesse Boskoff; Noah Traisman, CEO of Winible.com; and Austin O’Reilly, founder and CEO of Dynamic DNA Labs.
Rich Kleiman, who is the CEO of Boardroom and a majority owner of the Aces alongside partner Kevin Durant, expressed his excitement over the new group of investors and their contributions. He stated, “We’re thrilled to have this incredible group of investors join the Brooklyn Aces as we continue to grow the team and raise the profile of Major League Pickleball as a whole. In addition to the marketing and creative acumen that Michael B. Jordan, Drake, and Steve Stoute bring to the table, our investor group includes some of the savviest entrepreneurs in the business. We’re looking forward to what our second season brings.”
The Brooklyn Aces will be competing in their next Major League Pickleball (MLP) tournament in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, from September 21-24. The team will include Catherine Parenteau, the world’s second-ranked female player, and Andrea Koop, along with Hayden Patriquin and Tyler Loong, who are two-time MLP champions. Samin Odhwani will serve as the general manager for this season.
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Prior to the tournament, the Brooklyn Aces will host their first youth-focused community event, Aces Day of Play, in partnership with PowerPlay NYC, on August 3. This event will take place at the CityPickle courts in Union Square, highlighting the team’s commitment to engaging and inspiring young pickleball enthusiasts.
Beyond their involvement in pickleball, Michael B. Jordan has shown interest in sports through his investments in the Alpine F1 Team and A.F.C Bournemouth football club. Drake, on the other hand, holds ownership of OVO Sound.
Major League Pickleball, often referred to as MLP, has gained recognition and popularity in recent years. It is a team-based professional pickleball league founded by Steve Kuhn in 2021 and comprises 24 teams. MLP has collaborated with Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett’s lifestyle brand, which has further contributed to its branding and visibility.
With the support of these influential investors, the Brooklyn Aces and Major League Pickleball as a whole are poised to experience substantial growth. The presence of figures like Drake and Michael B. Jordan brings not only star power but also marketing expertise and broader connections to the sport. As they embark on their second season, the team and league are eager to capitalize on these investments and make a significant impact in the world of professional pickleball.
