Pickelball & the Growth of Sports Enterprises & Investment w/ Evan Floersch of the Texas Ranchers Pickleball Team - AZ TRT S06 EP21 (283) 11-23-2025

 

Pickelball & the Growth of Sports Enterprises & Investment w/ Evan Floersch of the Texas Ranchers Pickleball Team

- AZ TRT S06 EP21 (283) 11-23-2025    

 

 

 

What We Learned This Week:

1. Pickleball is now fully professionalized with a unified league structure.

The merger of PPA + MLP created a stable, closed league system with real team economics, structured seasons, and national distribution.

2. Media partnerships are accelerating the sport’s visibility.

Pickleball now has a dedicated channel, plus national TV exposure on CBS and Fox—putting it in the same conversation as traditional sports.

3. Austin is becoming a major sports & tech hub fueling this growth.

With Meta, Apple, Oracle, UT Austin, F1, MLS, and huge tourism, Austin is the perfect environment for emerging sports franchises.

4. Sports franchises are now a serious investment class—not a vanity asset.

Private equity has poured $30B into sports recently. Firms like Permian aim to operate teams professionally, build value, and own multiple franchises across leagues.

5. The big opportunity is not just the sport—it’s the stadium & real estate ecosystem.

Sports districts (like The Battery or Wrigleyville) generate tens of millions by combining sports, entertainment, dining, hotels, concerts, and tourism. Pickleball could follow this playbook.

 

 

 

 

Guest: Evan Floersch– co owner Texas Ranchers

 

Evan Floersch is on a mission to redefine sports, starting with the 2 billion dollar professional pickleball industry as an entrepreneur, investor, and champion of change leading with a dynamic and forward-thinking passion. As the founder and CEO of the premier Texas Ranchers Major League Pickleball Team, he is transforming the industry while positioning Austin as a major sports hub integrating his passion for the city's thriving cultural arts and future tech scene. 

In 2022, at just 26 years old, he made history as the youngest principal owner in sports by acquiring a controlling interest in the Texas Ranchers Major League Pickleball Team. Partnering with high-profile investors such as Lil Wayne, Scottie Scheffler, Kendra Scott, and NBA owner Dennis Wong, Evan is on a mission to turn the Ranchers into a global sports powerhouse.

His long-term vision extends beyond pickleball—he has publicly committed the next phase of his career to elevating Austin, Texas, into one of the world’s premier sports and entertainment markets. With its booming population, tech-driven economy, and untapped potential for championship-winning franchises, Evan sees Austin as the perfect city to build a lasting sports legacy. 

A former All-American soccer player at Emory University, Evan’s passion for competition and strategy extends to the pickleball court, where he plays regularly to better understand the game’s evolution. While he grew up surrounded by Chicago sports, his true inspiration comes from those who have built or guided industry-defining companies, with books like Shoe Dog, The Innovator’s Dilemma, The War of Art, and Relentless shaping his perspective on leadership, risk-taking, and disruption. Evan is an avid pickleball player and enjoys the fun and competitive aspect of America's fastest growing sport. 

“Like great companies, a great sports organization isn’t built by following the rules. It’s built by questioning them, pushing past them, and creating something entirely new. The Texas Ranchers, and future sports franchises we helm in Texas, will win because we see beyond what sports are on the court or field.”  - Evan Floersch, Founder and CEO

 

 

 

 

Texas Ranchers | Official Home of the Major League Pickleball Team 

Texas Ranchers: A New Era of Sports Ownership & Global Fan Engagement

 

Who is the most valued high grossing sports franchise?  I bet you didn’t guess professional pickleball did you?

With pickleball exploding into a $2 billion industry and viewership surpassing major professional leagues, the Texas Ranchers are at the forefront of this revolution. By leveraging their brand authority and expansive network, they are attracting exceptional opportunities, captivating fans worldwide, and redefining what it means to be part of a professional sports franchise.

 

The Texas Ranchers Major League Pickleball Team is proving that ownership isn’t just for high wealth individual ownership—it’s a collective force driven by business leaders, entertainment icons, and sports enthusiasts. By bringing together a powerhouse network of investors—including Lil Wayne, Scottie Scheffler, Kendra Scott, and NBA owner Dennis Wong—the Ranchers are revolutionizing franchise ownership, making it more dynamic, engaging, and accessible.

 

The Texas Ranchers aren’t just the most followed franchise in Major League Pickleball—they’re the highest-grossing and one of the most marketable brands in the sport. With top-tier talent, including men’s and women’s pro players like Christian Alshon and Tina Pisnik, the team is fueling a movement that extends far beyond the court.

 

"We are creating something bigger than a sports team. The Texas Ranchers represent a global brand, powered by diverse leaders in sports, business, and entertainment. Our goal is to redefine sports ownership and elevate pickleball as a premier professional sport." – Evan Floersch, Co-Founder & CEO

 

The Texas Ranchers’ Pillars for Success 

The Texas Ranchers are built on a foundation of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity—three pillars that drive the team’s success both on and off the court:

 

Democratizing Ownership – Unlike traditional sports teams, the Ranchers have created a model where ownership is a shared vision, uniting top minds from sports, business, and entertainment to amplify reach and influence.

 

Elevating the Sport – The Ranchers are committed to advancing pickleball into a premier professional sport, with top-tier athletes, world-class coaching, and high-performance training.

 

Building a Fan-First Experience – Through innovative media partnerships, interactive events, and digital engagement, the Ranchers are revolutionizing how fans experience pickleball. This includes using the latest in online social and AI community building tools and brand curation.

 

Investing in Players and Women’s Sports – With top shot male players Christian Alshon and Michael Lloyd and women pros Etta Wright and Tina Pisnik–the team is leading the charge in offering diversity and equity in the team. The Ranchers are ensuring that female athletes have the same spotlight as the male counterparts.

 

Expanding Global Reach – With a focus on international expansion, the Ranchers are growing pickleball’s footprint worldwide, attracting new fans, players, and markets.

 

 Lil Wayne — co-owner of the Texas Ranchers MLP pickleball team drops his first official fan-gear collection. From $14 to $85, the line delivers bold, game-day style for any pickleball lover. Great stocking-stuffers, everyday wear, and court-ready accessories.

 

"I’ve always believed creativity doesn’t belong to one lane. I love the opportunity to express what I can create beyond music. I hope everyone sees the Wayne in this collection. And, I hope people in the pickleball community see the Ranchers in it, too. Together, we're evolving the game and working to bring new audiences into it.  This collection represents that mindset." Lil Wayne

 

 Shop the full collection at Lil Wayne Collection

 

Photos of Texas Ranchers MLPs and Texas Ranchers Juniors wearing collection

 

 

 

 

Show Notes:

 

SEGMENT 1 — Pickleball & League Structure

History & Origins

• Pickleball began in 1965.
• Modern league landscape:
• Connor launched the PPA (Professional Pickleball Association)
• Steve Kuhn launched MLP (Major League Pickleball)
• PPA & MLP have since merged.

League Format

• Team-based structure
• 23 teams total
• Roster: 2 men, 2 women, plus 2 reserves
• Premier level: 1 male + 1 female draft slot
• 7 teams in Challenger league
• Closed league → No relegation or promotion like European soccer.

Season & Competition

• HQ in Austin
• 2025 season: May → September
• 25 matches, 3 points per win
• Playoffs: quarterfinals → semifinals → finals
• Teams spread across U.S.: Dallas, NY, Brooklyn, NJ, Chicago, 2 in CA, 2 in FL

Operations

• Hybrid expense structure
• Auction-style draft
• Teams bid on players
• Player drops, trades
• 3-year rights retention
• Allowed to drop one player per year

---

SEGMENT 2 — Media, Background, & Market Context

Media Distribution

• Pickleball TV on Amazon Prime + YouTube
• Matches also aired on CBS and Fox Sports

Guest Background

• Former athlete (soccer player), originally from Chicago
• Tech & e-commerce startup out of college → exited
• Worked in men’s health publishing
• Later shifted to sports; settled in Austin, TX

Austin Market Advantages

• Tech hub: Apple, Meta, Oracle HQ move
• UT Austin, Austin FC MLS team
• Strong tourism + events: F1, ACL, SXSW
• Pickleball court basics: smaller than tennis, includes the Kitchen

Broader Vision

• Cultural momentum for pickleball
• Potential global expansion and Olympic inclusion someday

---

SEGMENT 3 — Sports as an Asset Class & Permian Sports Investments

Sports Ownership Trends

• Private equity now active in major leagues including the NFL
• $30 billion invested in pro sports in recent years
• Sports teams seen as assets—not just trophies—now more professionalized

Permian Sports Investments

• Focused in Texas
• Operates as a holding company with investors (GP/LP structure)
• Vision: own & operate teams; expand into:
• NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL
• MLS and Formula One
• Goal: deliver equity appreciation + revitalize stale franchises
• Early-stage, but attracting celebrity & athlete investors
• Team facility: Austin Pickleball Ranch (2,000 seats)

---

SEGMENT 4 — Sports, Real Estate & Stadium Economics

Sports as an Economic Engine

• Stadiums attract traffic, dining, entertainment, tourism
• Sports = “event economy”
  → People come early, stay late (5–6 hours total)

Stadium & District Development

• Vision to build 8–12k seat stadium
• Sponsorships
• Multi-purpose events to reduce costs
• Real estate opportunity similar to:
• Wrigleyville (Chicago)
• The Battery (Atlanta) → $65M/year revenue

Sports Digital & Physical Ecosystem

• Districts support:
• Restaurants, hotels, rideshare
• Entertainment venues (TopGolf, theaters, event spaces)
• MLP Tour comes to Austin once per year
• 6 teams compete over a weekend
• Draws meaningful tourism traffic

---

 

 

 

 

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