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☆ CNBC's Inside India newsletter: Will AI make or break India?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

But one that could foreshadow India's growth story. Can Teleperformance's stock plunge be the canary in the coal mine for what is likely to happen to India because of AI? But it's likely to be a blip for India's growth trajectory, given the macro forces at play. Besides creating jobs that are less likely to be immediately disrupted by AI, India could also be a net beneficiary of artificial intelligence. The Indian stock market indexes, Sensex and Nifty 50 , are heading for a positive week again — up by 1% and 1.2%, respectively.

Persons: Findlay Kember, Klarna, ChatGPT, K Krithivasan, Krithivasan, Narendra Modi, It's, Shilan Shah, Goldman Sachs, Vinay Dwivedi, Ashok Gulati, Nomura, League Pickleball, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jerome Powell, Raghuram Rajan, Ashish Jain, CNBC's Ayushi Jindal Organizations: AFP, Getty, India's Tata Consultancy Services, Financial Times, TCS, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, University of Oxford, Capital Economics, Investment, Nomura, Qualcomm, Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing, UPI, India, Commission, Agricultural, United Pickleball Association, Global Sports, PPA, League, Washington Post, White, U.S ., Federal, CNBC, Reserve Bank of India, University of Chicago Booth School of Business Locations: Swedish, Paris, India, Chennai, U.S, Europe, China, Singapore, South Korea, Canada, United States

☆ Professional pickleball signs first international deal, looks to grow the sport in India
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The United Pickleball Association and Global Sports announced a deal on Thursday to bring the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball to the world's most populous country. It's the first international deal and major announcement for the United Pickleball Association, which was created after a merger between Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association last February. The PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball retained their own distinct brands after the merger. "The PPA Tour India and MLP India will create a pathway for players to compete on pickleball's biggest stage and reach the top of the sport. The deal will also launch PPA Tour India, offering ranking points to players at events around the country.

Persons: Jose A, Iglesias, League Pickleball, Major League Pickleball, Connor Pardoe, Shashank Khaitan Organizations: El, El Nuevo Herald, Tribune, Service, Getty, United Pickleball Association, Global Sports, PPA, League, Major League, Professional Pickleball Association, MLP, India, MLP India, APP, Global Locations: Miami, El Nuevo, India, Asia, Australia, United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, pickleball

☆ Major League Pickleball and PPA Tour complete long-awaited merger
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association have completed their long-awaited merger agreement and infused new capital into the sport, the leagues announced Thursday. The agreement comes after months of drama, hostility and negotiations between the competing pickleball leagues as they now join forces to determine the future of professional pickleball. "Today is an exciting day for everyone involved or interested in the world of pickleball," said PPA Tour founder and CEO Connor Pardoe. The merger will bring together more than 150 professional pickleball players, including many top-ranked players in the world. The PPA Tour features individual bracket-style tour, while MLP is a team-based format.

Persons: Lacy Schneemann, Major League Pickleball, Al Tylis, Tom Dundon, Connor Pardoe, haven't, Bruce Popko, Steve Kuhn, Julian DePietro, Brooks Wiley Organizations: Florida, League Pickleball, BLQK, Major League, Professional Pickleball Association, PPA, MLP, SC Holdings, D.C, Pickleball Team, CNBC, CNBC PRO Locations: Columbus , Ohio

☆ Pro pickleball players band together as chaos, a merger and pay cuts grip the sport
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-15 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Major League Pickleball finals at Pickle & Chill on October 16, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. Emilee Chinn | Getty ImagesDozens of professional pickleball players have formed a collective to voice their concerns about recent pay cuts and the future of the sport. In a letter obtained by CNBC, the collective shared their dissatisfaction with how they have been treated by Major League Pickleball and the Pro Pickleball Association Tour. The MLP and the PPA Tour are currently negotiating a proposed merger. CNBC spoke with multiple players who say they feel like they've been unfairly treated or received threats for not agreeing to the proposed pay cuts.

Persons: Emilee Chinn, Major League Pickleball, they've, LeBron James, Tom Brady, Kevin Durant, Patrick Mahomes, Julio DePietro, Steve Kuhn, Brooks Wiley, DePietro, Connor Pardoe, Jillian Braverman, Braverman, It's, Ritchie Tuazon Organizations: League Pickleball, Getty, CNBC, Major League, Pro Pickleball, MLP, PPA, Florida, NYSE, PPA Tour, MLP Challenger, California BLQK Bears Locations: Columbus , Ohio, Pardoe, California

☆ Major League Pickleball asks players to take 40% pay cut on the back of rapid growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Major League Pickleball is requesting that players consent to compensation reductions of 40% in return for a reduction of work obligations, according an email sent to players that was obtained by CNBC. It comes as professional pickleball has seen rapid growth in nearly every category and as Major League Pickleball and Professional Pickleball Association are on the cusp of signing an on-again, off-again, on-again merger agreement. The MLP email notes the PPA has also been communicating with its players and has made similar requests for player compensation reductions. Reactions have been mixed among professional pickleball players. Two-time Major League Pickleball champion Thomas Wilson, however, said players are paid "more than fairly even with the cuts."

Persons: Thomas Wilson, League Pickleball, Brooks Wiley, Steve Kuhn, Dink Pickleball, pickleball, Jillian Braverman, Wilson, Laura Vossberg Gainor Organizations: MLP Mesa Premier League, USA, League, CNBC, MLP, PPA, Professional Pickleball, Twitter Locations: Mesa , Arizona

☆ Major League Pickleball merger with PPA is back on after a falling out threatened the deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Lacy Schneemann of the Florida Smash returns a shot during a group play Major League Pickleball match against BLQK at Pickle & Chill on October 15, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. After weeks of drama in professional pickleball, the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball have again agreed to merge, the leagues said Wednesday. "As professional pickleball continues to rapidly grow, we could not be more excited to provide both players and fans with the clarity and consistency of a unified professional pickleball organization," Major League Pickleball founder Steve Kuhn said in a statement. On the professional level, Major League Pickleball teams values have skyrocketed, with some teams going for $10 million. Major League Pickleball owners include many high profile athletes from LeBron James and Kevin Durant to Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.

Persons: Lacy Schneemann, League Pickleball, Tom Dundon, pickleball, Steve Kuhn, Kuhn, Dundon, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes Organizations: Florida, League Pickleball, BLQK, PPA, League, SC Holdings, MLP, pickleball, Major League Pickleball Locations: Columbus , Ohio

☆ Tom Brady will be a strategic adviser to Delta
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Tom Brady has a new employer: Delta Air Lines. The seven-time Super Bowl champion is expanding his post-NFL career business ventures, joining Delta to work on internal employee training and appear in external advertising campaigns. Delta said Wednesday that Brady would become a “strategic adviser” to the airline. Brady will partner with Delta to develop and advise on “teamwork tools” for the airline’s more than 90,000 employees and take part in select marketing campaigns, the company said. Brady founded health and wellness company TB12 Sports and also owns a media company and the Brady Brand clothing line.

Persons: Tom Brady, Delta, Brady, ”, “, Ed Bastian’s, Allen Adamson, ” Brady, Adamson, BlackBerry, Alicia Keys, will.i.am, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé Knowles, Brady Brand Organizations: New, New York CNN, Delta Air Lines, NFL, Delta, Intel, Polaroid, Adidas, TB12 Sports, British soccer, Birmingham City, League Pickleball, Fox Sports Locations: New York, Delta

☆ Mega pickleball merger between Major League Pickleball and PPA is in jeopardy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Professional Pickleball Association and Major League Pickleball are now at odds after announcing in November that they would join forces and merge team competition leagues. The PPA told CNBC that MLP has not yet signed the partnership deal they verbally agreed to 10 months ago. "I don't know what Steve Kuhn's intentions were the entire time," Connor Pardoe, PPA Tour CEO told CNBC. Kuhn told CNBC that there are "numerous misrepresentations of reality" taking place, without providing specifics. He said if the PPA is willing to pay their players more, he's willing to talk about aligning with the league.

Persons: There's, Major League Pickleball, Tom Dundon, Steve Kuhn, Steve, Connor Pardoe, Pardoe, Kuhn, we'll, Julio DePietro, Zubin Mehta Organizations: Seattle Pioneers, Los Angeles Mad, Premier League, Professional Pickleball Association, Major League, PPA, CNBC, MLP Locations: San, San Clemente , California

☆ Pickleball mania breathes new life into Arizona mall
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Liliana Salgado | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TEMPE, Arizona, Aug 8 (Reuters) - The pickleball craze in the U.S. has reached new heights with the opening last weekend of the first "Picklemall," an indoor sports facility inside a mall in Tempe, Arizona. One of the unique features of Picklemall is its replay system, Picklemall CEO West Shaw told Reuters. The founder behind Major League Pickleball and Picklemall, Steve Kuhns, thinks this partnership with Arizona Mills mall will bring new life to dying shopping malls. There's really no other sport like that in the world that is just growing so rapidly with such adamant fans of the sport," Shaw said. "You'll see us opening more Picklemalls and our goal here is to create a great experience for serious Pickleball players, people who love the sport," he said.

Persons: West Shaw, Shaw, Major League Pickleball, Steve Kuhns, Kuhns, There's, Liliana Salgado, Rory Carroll, Stephen Coates Organizations: Arizona Mills, Reuters, Major League, Arizona, Thomson Locations: TEMPE , Arizona, U.S, Tempe , Arizona, Arizona, Phoenix, Picklemall, Arizona Mills, pickleball, Tempe

☆ Tom Brady becomes minority owner of second-tier British soccer team Birmingham City
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —NFL great Tom Brady has joined a partnership to become a minority owner in second-tier British soccer team Birmingham City, it was announced on Thursday. Birmingham City finished 17th in the second-tier of English football’s pyramid, the Championship, last season. Birmingham City finished 17th in the second-tier of English football’s pyramid, the Championship, last season. “Tom Brady joining the Birmingham City team is a statement of intent. With Garry Cook as CEO, Hope Powell as Women’s Technical Director and now Tom Brady we are off to a fast start.

Persons: Tom Brady, Brady, ” Brady, Tony Marshall, I’ve, “ Tom Brady, ” Tom Wagner, “ Tom, Tom, Garry Cook, Hope Powell Organizations: CNN, NFL, British, Birmingham City, Knighthead Capital Management, Board, League Pickleball, Le, Club, Academy, Blues, Women’s, Birmingham City’s, Swansea, Saturday Locations: Birmingham

☆ Picklemall is revamping vacant shopping malls into pickleball courts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailPicklemall is revamping vacant shopping malls into pickleball courtsWest Shaw, the CEO of Picklemall, and Steve Kuhn, founder of Major League Pickleball and former hedge fund manager, join 'Power Lunch' to discuss the Picklemall concept, plans to grow Picklemall across the country, and more.

Persons: West Shaw, Steve Kuhn, Major League Pickleball Organizations: Major League

☆ Major League Pickleball founder looks to capitalize on the sport's growing 'cool' factor
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

One of the sport's biggest boosters is Steve Kuhn, a former hedge fund manager who founded Major League Pickleball. "I think there was a time when pickleball was considered a sport that was not really a sport. The billionaire, who lives in Austin, has gotten the pro league off the ground by growing the business with sponsorships, media deals and expansion teams. Major League Pickleball teams today are going for as much as $10 million. Professional Pickleball can be seen on almost every major television network and many streamers.

Persons: pickleball, Steve Kuhn, Kuhn, Kevin Durant, Lebron James, Tom Brady Organizations: League Pickleball, America, Major League Pickleball Locations: Austin

☆ Major League Pickleball Founder on the roots of the fastest-growing sport in America
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMajor League Pickleball Founder on the roots of the fastest-growing sport in AmericaMajor League Pickleball Founder Steve Kuhn discusses how pickleball got its start, how celebrities like Lebron James boosted its 'cool' factor and how he hopes to bring 'the Benjamin Button of sports' to more kids in U.S. schools.

Persons: Steve Kuhn, pickleball, Lebron James, Benjamin Button Organizations: Pickleball, America Major League

☆ Major League Pickleball CEO: The sport 'absolutely' can be as big as tennis someday
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMajor League Pickleball CEO: The sport 'absolutely' can be as big as tennis somedayJulio DePietro, Major League Pickleball CEO and Bruce Popko, Major League Pickleball COO, join 'Squawk Box' to discuss the explosive growth of the sport, comparisons to tennis, media viewership opportunities, and more.

Persons: Julio DePietro, Bruce Popko Organizations: League, League Pickleball

☆ Major League Pickleball names new CEO and COO to capitalize on surging popularity
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jorja Johnson of the Hard Eights holds her Franklin paddle during the Major League Pickleball finals match against BLQK at Pickle & Chill on October 16, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. Major League Pickleball is getting new leadership as it looks to capitalize on the rise of America's fastest-growing sport at the professional level. "The additions of Julio and Bruce signify another landmark step forward in the evolution of Major League Pickleball," said MLP founder Steve Kuhn. We're at just the beginning of this hockey-stick growth," DePietro told CNBC. In the year-plus that he's served as an owner in the league, DePietro said, team valuations have seen 100-times growth.

Persons: Jorja Johnson, Franklin, Major League Pickleball, Julio DePietro, Bruce Popko, Julio, Bruce, Steve Kuhn, DePietro, Kuhn, he's, pickleball, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Tom Brady, Drew Brees Organizations: League Pickleball, BLQK, Major League, pickleball, NFL, CNBC, Citadel, Florida, MLP, NBA, Anheuser, Busch Locations: Columbus , Ohio

☆ Abandoned stores are coming back to life as pickleball courts, thanks to startups ready to cash in on the trend
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Pickleball courts are taking over old big-box stores and mall anchor tenants. This Richmond Macy's, which is located inside Regency Square Mall, is just one of dozens of malls, former department stores, and former big-box stores across the country being turned into pickleball facilities. Laaser said former anchor tenants like Macy's are perfect for pickleball, since they're "basically just big boxes" sitting empty inside declining malls. There's a 'gold rush' on indoor pickleball courtsAn indoor pickleball facility operated by The Picklr inside an old Staples store. It's led to an explosion in companies that make pickleball equipment and, more recently, dedicated pickleball facilities.

Persons: —, Jon Laaser, Richmond, Laaser, pickleball, It's, Steve Kuhn, Major League Pickleball, Pickleball, Kuhn, Jorge Barragan, Barragan, There's, liquidators, it's, we've Organizations: Service, Staples, Sports & Fitness Industry Association, Major League, Party City Locations: Richmond , Virginia, Regency, Richmond, pickleball, Arizona Mills, Tempe , Arizona, Utah, Colorado

☆ Billionaire Marc Lasry, who sold his stake in the Milwaukee Bucks, sees pickleball offering a better return than investment in the NBA
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Marc Lasry said his investments in pickleball and other upstart sports leagues could offer a higher return than those in NBA teams. The co-founder of Avenue Capital Group bought a pickleball team with tennis star James Blake for $100,000 in 2021. He told Bloomberg TV that the team is now worth $10 million. The co-founder of Avenue Capital Group told Bloomberg Television he believes his investments in pickleball and other upstart sports leagues could offer a higher return than those in NBA teams. This year, the 63-year-old investor agreed to sell his 25% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team.

☆ Tennis Channel will air Major League Pickleball tournament matches, deepening broadcast partnership
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Anna Bright of the Ranchers returns a shot during a group play Major League Pickleball match against Mad Drops Pickleball Club at Pickle & Chill on October 15, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. Major League Pickleball announced Thursday the cable channel will broadcast the league's premier level tournament semifinals and finals in Mesa, Arizona, and will make all matches of the tournament available for streaming. The longtime Tennis Channel executive said pickleball has already seen a very natural overlap with existing tennis sponsors. He noted that during MLP professional matches, the ball is in action about 40% of the time, compared with professional tennis matches at 16%. Adding pickleball matches to its streaming offerings means beefing up content at a time when linear television is stagnant, at best.

☆ Pickleball popularity explodes, with more than 36 million playing
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The latest numbers unveiled in the 2023 APP Pickleball Participation report, via a study conducted by YouGov, shows that 14% of Americans played pickleball at least once in that 12-month period. The real dillAcross the country, tennis courts and being replaced, and pickleball courts are moving in as other investors are shoring up big money. Since 2022, Life Time has constructed indoor and outdoor pickleball courts at a rate of five new permanent courts each week. "Pickleball participation [at Life Time] in a given month has risen from about 16,000 people to like 160,000. Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association took notice and they have partnered with Life Time to host multiple tournaments across the country this year.

☆ Major League Pickleball merges with PPA's week-old VIBE League
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association's new VIBE Pickleball League have agreed to merge, the organizations said Wednesday. The combined league will continue to operate under the Major League Pickleball brand name and format as the rapidly growing sport surges in popularity. Last week, the PPA announced the creation of the VIBE Pickleball League with Mark Cuban as its first team owner. VIBE said it would be team focused and co-ed, similar to what Major League Pickleball has been doing. Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk have both made investments in Major League Pickleball.

☆ Major League Pickleball's newest team owner is Anheuser-Busch
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Zane Navratil and Parris Todd of BLQK celebrate a point during a group play Major League Pickleball match against the Florida Smash at Pickle & Chill on October 15, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. Major League Pickleball has named its newest team owner, and it's a major beer brand. The rapidly growing sports league announced on Tuesday that Anheuser-Busch will purchase a Major League Pickleball team. Anheuser-Busch is the first Fortune 500 company to purchase an MLP team. Major League Pickleball also sees the partnership as a big win.

☆ 22 innovative sports startups that VCs say could transform the industry, from new leagues to betting platforms
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Colin Salao | Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Insider asked VC investors which sports startups they find the most innovative. We asked each investor to nominate companies, including one outside their investment portfolio. The top startups are innovating on the models for leagues, betting, athlete performance, and more. Insider asked 10 top venture capitalists who focus on sports to name the most innovative startups in the industry in 2022. Athlete performance is also a hot topic for investors, who highlighted startups like Diamond Kinetics, biomarker scanner Spren, and Veo.

☆ Kevin Durant is the latest athlete to buy a Major League Pickleball team
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is the latest celebrity athlete taking his love of pickleball big league. In recent weeks, Major League Pickleball has signed on a number of big-name athlete owners, including basketball legend LeBron James and NFL stars Tom Brady and Drew Brees. In September, a viral video showed Durant playing pickleball at a local recreation center, declaring that he's "getting the hang of it." Kleiman told CNBC that by acquiring a team, owners also get equity in the league. Similar to his work with 35V's "Build It and They Will Ball" initiative, which has refurbished basketball courts globally, Durant plans to bring pickleball to underserved communities.

☆ NBA's Durant latest high-profile athlete to invest in pickleball
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 20 (Reuters) - Two-time NBA champion and former league Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant on Thursday became the latest high-profile athlete to buy a Major League Pickleball (MLP) expansion team. The Brooklyn Nets forward and business partner Rich Kleiman announced that their Thirty Five Ventures (35V) firm purchased a pickleball team that is set to compete in the 2023 MLP season. "We're especially excited about their plans to bring pickleball to underserved communities – something they have done with basketball for years." Other MLP team owners and partners include four-time NBA champion LeBron James, Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Tom Brady and Drew Brees as well as former world number one tennis player Kim Clijsters. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Frank Pingue in TorontoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Kevin Durant and other celebs back growing Major League Pickleball
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailKevin Durant and other celebs back growing Major League Pickleball35V co-founder Rich Kleiman joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss his decision to buy a Major League Pickleball expansion team alongside Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant.

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