America’s Fastest-Growing Sport Unites Retired Professional Athletes From Baseball, Hockey, Football, and Basketball to Create PBX Pickleball

CLEARWATER, Fla. — June 20, 2023 — The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the nation’s leading manager of sports and recreation facilities, have teamed up with sports industry leaders, and retired professional male and female athletes to launch PBX Pickleball. Advisors for the new organization include 3x MLB All-Star Kevin Youkilis, 4x World Series Champ Tino Martinez, 2x MLB All-Star Brad Penny, 18-year MLB veteran Kent Mercker, NHL Player, Coach, GM and Team President Paul Holmgren, 4x Stanley Cup Champ Kris Draper, NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champ Golden Tate, former CEO of USA Pickleball Stu Upson and more.

PBX Pickleball will attract top retired professional athletes from all major sports, including baseball, hockey, football, and basketball, and has entered a partnership with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) and the NHL Alumni Association. Additional partnerships will be announced. PBX Pickleball will incorporate retired players’ charities and other nonprofit organizations nationwide.

PBX Pickleball will consist of four experiences:

• PBX Tour will bring together retired sports stars turned avid pickleball players, starting with athletes who previously competed at the highest levels of their sports. Each player will represent their respective sports in PBX Pickleball tournaments for audiences watching in person, via television broadcasts, and through digital media.
• PBX Pro-Ams will allow amateur pickleball players to play with and against former male and female stars of major sports teams. PBX Pickleball Pro-Ams will align with professional pickleball tour stops and occur adjacent to these events, including the PBX Tour.
• PBX Dream Weekends will offer the ultimate pickleball experience for amateur participants. Pickleball enthusiasts will learn from professional pickleball players and interact with dozens of retired athletes.
• PBX Corporate Experiences will be fully customizable with turnkey services to support corporate meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions. Retired professional athletes will be part of the experience.

“The pickleball explosion in America continues to attract players and spectators at a rapid pace,” said Jason Clement, CEO of The Sports Facilities Companies. “Passionate participants now include hundreds of professional athletes who found pickleball in retirement. PBX Pickleball will harness the talent and competitive spirit to offer excitement and experiences that fans will love.”

With over 45 SFC-managed venues that represent the SF Network, the Sports Facilities Companies will leverage relationships nationwide to book and market PBX Pickleball events. Notable participants, event dates, venues, broadcast partners, and sponsors will be confirmed in the weeks ahead.

“So many sports heroes from baseball, hockey, football, and basketball have become exceptional pickleball players,” said Youkilis. “As one of those retired athletes who picked up the game myself, I’m excited to see PBX Pickleball allow us to scratch our competitive itch, interact with our fans, and continue our playing careers through a sport that is so much fun to play. We’ll also make pickleball a blast to watch on TV.”

“Pickleball has not only served as the fastest-growing sport in the country for the past three years, it has been elevated to a social phenomenon,” said Justin Maloof, USA Pickleball Chief Operating Officer. “With that in mind, PBX Pickleball’s vision to interweave other great American sports, while engaging with top pro athletes, will create even more unique and amazing experiences for both pickleball participants and spectators.”

PBX Pickleball is currently exploring a multi-year strategic partnership with USA Pickleball, the National Governing Body for the sport in the United States. 

Fans can sign up for PBX Pickleball news at https://pbxpickleball.com or follow @pbxpickleball on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About The Sports Facilities Companies

The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) are the nation’s leading resources for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. As a turn-key solution for community leaders and developers alike, SFC services span the gamut of sports and recreation needs from sports tourism & recreation master planning, program planning, and feasibility through professional facility management services. Our 45+ managed venues and 2000+ team members, represented by the SF Network, welcome more than 25 million guest visits and produce over $300 million in economic impact each year. To learn more, please visit SportsFacilities.com and theSFnetwork.com.

About USA Pickleball

USA Pickleball is the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of pickleball in the United States. Its mission is to promote the development and growth of the sport while sanctioning events and providing annual members with premier tournaments, educational opportunities, player rankings, official rules and other exclusive benefits. USA Pickleball is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that is governed and operated by a Board of Directors and a national office staff, who provide the guidance and infrastructure for the continued expansion of the sport.