PICKLEBALL CENTRAL BECOMES THE OFFICIAL STORE OF THE PPA TOUR
| July 11, 2023
Pickleball Central, the leading distributor of all things pickleball, joins the Pro Tour to help answer growing consumer demand as the sport continues to explode.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT (December 15, 2021) – The brand-new multi-year partnership between the PPA Tour and Pickleball Central will start in January of 2022 and promises product availability on a whole new level for avid pickleball fans. Pickleball Central will have a designated retail superstore at every PPA Tour stop in 2022, 2023 and 2024 with their expertly curated product selection on display.
Representing more pickleball manufacturers than any other retailer in the nation, Pickleball Central will give players and spectators access to a whole new world of options. Tournament attendees will be able to demo and purchase equipment from the leading paddle, apparel, accessory, and footwear brands, review products, try on items, and talk to trained representatives about their individual needs.
“Since 2006, when Anna Copley and David Johnson started the company, we’ve focused on growing the sport and player experience through amazing customer service and curated product selection,” said Doug Thielen, Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer at PickleballCentral.com. “This multi-year partnership to bring our pickleball specialty superstore and love for the game to PPA tournaments is the perfect representation of our ongoing dedication to that mission. We are incredibly excited to partner with the PPA Tour’s talented team.”
Pickleball Central will become the PPA Tour’s Official Store, while FILA will continue on as the Official Apparel and Footwear provider. Event merchandise at the on-site Pickleball Central Superstore will include the latest offerings from the exclusive PPA x FILA collaboration, as well as tournament-themed apparel and accessories.
“Working in partnership with a powerhouse in the pickleball industry like Pickleball Central makes perfect sense for us and is something we are very excited about,” said Connor Pardoe, commissioner of the PPA. “We look forward to giving PPA fans an unforgettable customer experience in the coming years, as well as serving Pickleball Central’s existing consumer base.”
In addition to the on-site Pickleball Central Superstore, PPA Tour fans will have the opportunity to shop for gear at pickleballcentral.com all year round. To browse the latest in all things pickleball, visit www.pickleballcentral.com.
ABOUT THE PPA TOUR:
The Professional Pickleball Association is the professional tour for the sport of pickleball, organizing events and rankings for the top male and female pickleball players in the world and awarding over $2.5 million in annual prize money. With more than 20 events in 2022 at world-class facilities like the Linder Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati and the Aviva Center in Toronto, the PPA Tour is the premier provider of professional and amateur events. The league expects to welcome more than a quarter-million fans on-site, as well as garner over half a million in total viewership for each event, thanks to partnerships with broadcasting powerhouses such as FOX Sports, Tennis Channel, CBS Sports, and ESPN+. Founded in 2018 and based in Salt Lake City, Utah, the PPA Tour provides an unparalleled experience for all, inviting players to compete and “play where the pros play,” as well as offering unrivaled venues, food/beverages, live DJ entertainment, VIP experiences, giveaways and games, pro player meet-and-greets, shopping, vendors, and more. For more information, go to www.ppatour.com.
ABOUT PICKLEBALLCENTRAL.COM:
PickleballCentral.com, the pickleball specialty superstore, was started in 2006 by Anna Copley and David Johnson to service the growing sport – as well as Anna’s parents’ pickleball obsession. What started as an entrepreneurial side-business, has grown to be the nation’s largest pickleball retailer and trusted source for all things pickleball-related. Fueled by exceptional customer service and the team’s passion for growing the sport, PickleballCentral.com carries the industry’s top brands with an incredible selection of paddles, nets, balls, shoes, apparel, and pickleball accessories for all player abilities. See for yourself at www.pickleballcentral.com.
Hannah Johns
PPA Tour
PR/Broadcasting
hannah@ppatour.com
Doug Thielen
PickleballCentral.com
doug@pickleballcentral.com
