PRESS CONTACT

Nicole Joy Hales P: 617-947-7983 E: nhales@prfirst.com 

PICKLESMLP.COM

Pickles NE, LLC, an indoor, first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art, climate-controlled pickleball-only complex, announced today that it has been selected to partner with Major League Pickleball (MLP) and Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) to offer the first ever MLP Amateur team-format draft and Championship Tournament. 

The MLP amateur team format draft will allow players to qualify based on participation in a series of one-day, timed round robins held over eight weeks.  Players will be grouped by DUPR into the appropriate round robin bracket and play as many matches as possible within a two-hour window.  Players can participate in as few or as many weekend sessions as they like; the more matches played, the more likely to qualify for the draft.

Pickles will be holding both Saturday and Sunday match sessions, starting July 9.  Players with ratings of 3.5 or 5.0 will compete on Saturdays, and players with ratings of 4.0 or 4.5 will compete on Sundays.  Throughout the eight weeks, MLP and DUPR will send out national and regional updates of New England’s top pickleball players, highlighting the best of the best.  The draft qualifying sessions will run from July 9 through August 28.  

At the end of the eight-week season, the top eight male and top eight female players from each bracket (64 total players) will be drafted onto teams by MLP/DUPR Commissioners, to compete in the Championship Tournament, which will be held Labor Day Weekend (September 3 and 4).  In this format, two male players and two female players will comprise each team, and compete in a four-team playoff.  First place in each division receives $2,000 per team ($500 per person).      

A rating algorithm engineered for pickleball players, DUPR is the most accurate and only global rating system in pickleball.  All players, regardless of their age, gender, location, or skill, are rated on the same scale between 2.000 and 8.000 based on their match results.

“Pickles is the gold standard of pickleball clubs nationwide,” said Jill Braverman, CEO of DUPR.  “Their innovative spirit embodies the mission of both MLP and DUPR.  We cannot thank Pickles enough for all of their hard work, willingness to challenge the status quo, dedication to the sport we all love so much and their willingness to accept our invitation to be the inaugural premiere host of this game-changing nationwide event.

“The sport of pickleball is, quite literally, better because of Pickles!” she added.  

“Pickles is dedicated to continuing to provide cutting-edge technologies and solutions that enhance the player experience, and DUPR is at the heart of this mission,” added Brooks Wiley, MLP commissioner.  “We’re really excited to offer our technology to Pickles members for free, and provide the tools, products, and support to fundamentally change the way pickleball is played at clubs worldwide.”

MLP and DUPR plan to announce 49 other exclusive sites throughout the country over the upcoming days.  Pickles will serve as the exclusive location for entry into the amateur draft for the entire Northeast.

 Pickles was founded in 2021 by Lisa DeMeritt and Wanda Melampy – two women with a love for the sport of pickleball and the observation that there is a definite lack of indoor courts exclusively dedicated to the sport of pickleball in New England.   

“There are currently hundreds of thousands of players on the DUPR platform worldwide,” said DeMeritt.  “It’s rewarding to know we can play a small part in helping advance the game here in our corner of New England.” 

“We are thrilled to partner with Major League Pickleball and DUPR for the amateur team draft and Championship Tournament,” added Melampy.  “It’s an honor to be named an exclusive MLP location, and we look forward to building the momentum to what promises to be the greatest pickleball summer yet!”

About Pickles NE, LLC

Pickles was founded by Lisa DeMeritt and Wanda Melampy, two women with a passion for the sport of pickleball.  After being introduced to the sport and observing its huge following, they identified a need for indoor courts exclusively designed for the sport of pickleball.  Pickles also offers beer and wine in their café area, and a small retail shop carrying the latest pickleball gear.  Pickles is also available for functions and corporate events.  

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum as a game the whole family could take part in. Year over year the sport has experienced growth as more people become familiar with pickleball; today, over 5 million people throughout the United States play pickleball, and it has grown 650% over the last five years, making it considered the fastest-growing sport in the world. 

Pickles is located at 357 Columbia Road in Hanover, MA.

For more information, please visit www.picklesne.com.

About DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating)

DUPR is the most-accurate global pickleball rating system trusted by the PPA Tour, and the world’s premier pickleball clubs, tours, and professionals. Using an innovative algorithm on a scale of 2-8 designed for accuracy, transparency and adaptability, the DUPR rating system factors how close a match was, making every point count. Developed by a renowned Applied Sports Algorithms Expert, DUPR rating is truly universal – both ageless and genderless – and focuses on the margin of victory (number of points won), not just whether a player won or lost.

For more information, please visit www.mydupr.com.

About MLP (Major League Pickleball)

Major League Pickleball (MLP) is the elite professional pickleball competition that sees teams of two women, two men, compete in a unique format that has set new standards in the fastest growing sport in America. MLP’s first-ever event, which took place in November 2022, raised the bar for pro pickleball, introducing broadcast and event production innovations that saw MLP awarded the title “Event of the Year” by The Dink. In addition to MLP’s goal to create engaging new platforms to showcase the best professional female and male pickleball players worldwide, MLP is also focused on helping build the grassroots of the sport, attracting both new participants and fans to pickleball in the USA and worldwide.

For more information on Major League Pickleball, go to www.majorleaguepickleball.net

HAPPY. HUMBLED. HONORED. #40by30

“We could not be more proud and honored to be selected as the very first pickleball club in America announced as a premiere host of the inaugural MLP Amateur Team Draft and Tournament Championship.” Lisa DeMeritt and Wanda Melampy

lee whitwell, professional pickleball player, MLP “Florida Smash”

@ladygibraltar “MLP Austin, TX. Fantastic people, memories made, friendships strengthen - looking forward to Newport, CA 2022 and the launch of the first ever MLP Amateur Draft and Tournament Championship. Thank you to everyone who makes this possible - the MLP staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, the refs, the volunteers, Florida Smash team owners, Steve Kuhn, who if not for this vision none of this would be possible and last but definitely not least, the fans! The atmosphere is unlike anything else. Other tournaments are just other tournaments. But MLP team format play…? There’s nothing like it!”

#40by30 #whatsyourdupr #getdrafted #picklesne