Minor League Pickleball and The Dink Announce Joint Venture, Launch "The Dink Minor League Pickleball"
Austin, TX (April 15, 2024) — Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) and The Dink, pickleball's leading media platform, today announced The Dink Minor League Pickleball, a new joint venture designed to grow local competitive opportunities for amateur players.
What Is The Dink Minor League Pickleball?
The Dink Minor League Pickleball will extend the reach of MiLP to create more events and opportunities for amateur players in the United States and worldwide. Since its inception in the fall of 2022, Minor League Pickleball has hosted over 120 events involving over 8,000 participants, gaining considerable traction and acceptance among competitive amateur players due to its exciting format, frequency of events, and electrifying atmosphere.
With The Dink coming on board as a partner, The Dink Minor League Pickleball is aiming to host more than 200 events in the US this year alone, with plans to expand its footprint and format worldwide. As CBS Sports has covered, the broader Major League Pickleball ecosystem has become one of the most watched growth stories in American sports, and the amateur league is positioned to fuel that momentum from the ground up.
"Amateurs drive the sport; they're the reason we're all here. We've published thousands of pieces of content to help recreational players, from beginner to 5.0, improve their game. Through The Dink Minor League Pickleball, we're offering an environment to put those skills into practice, compete, and have an unforgettable experience. And oh yeah, they can also win some money," said Thomas Shields, The Dink's Founder and CEO.
Minor League Pickleball Format and DUPR Integration
Minor League Pickleball, a subsidiary of DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), is an innovative team competition where teams of four players (two women and two men) compete against each other in a novel and engaging format, with twists on traditional match-ups and scoring for games, matches, and tiebreakers.
Under the joint venture, The Dink Minor League will host over 200 events across the country, including seven new regional events and a national championship, to bring the country's most competitive amateurs together in an unforgettable tournament weekend. This is exactly the kind of structured pathway that separates Minor League Pickleball from standard open-play tournaments.
"We are excited to partner with The Dink, the premier media and news source in pickleball, to grow Minor League Pickleball into the largest amateur pickleball league worldwide by providing more and better playing opportunities and a unique 'play like the pros' experience," said Tito Machado, DUPR CEO. "Combining the power of The Dink's media platform with MiLP's exciting format and engaged community offers new ways to spotlight the game, the players and the venues, and further develop the most exciting amateur league the world has seen."
The Dink Minor League Pickleball Key Events
Northeast Regional
Date: July 20th Venue: Bounce Pickleball, Malvern, PA Host: All State Pickleball League, Stephen Conger
Midsouth Regional
Date: July 27th - 28th Venue: Pickleball Kingdom, Plano, TX Host: OPC, Caroline Luelf
Midwest Regional
Date: August 10th Venue: PickleCon (Kansas City Convention Center), Kansas City, MO Host: iPickle Nation, Rick Fortuna
West Coast Regional
Date: August 31st Venue: Willow Pass Community Park, Concord, CA Host: Carmen Sanz Pickleball Club, Carmen Sanz
Northwest Regional
Date: September 7th - 8th Venue: Cavelero Courts, Lake Stevens, WA Host: ZZ2 Pickleball, Pablo Granados
Southwest Regional
Date: October 5th - 6th Venue: Picklemall, Tempe, AZ Host: iPickle Nation, Rick Fortuna
Southeast Regional
Date: November 9th - 10th Venue: Lone Palm Country Club, Lakeland, FL Host: All Florida Pickleball, David Tabb
National Championship
Date: December 13th - 15th Venue: Missouri Pickleball Club, Fenton, MO Host: DUPR
How Minor League Pickleball Competition Works
Teams compete against each other in Matches using the MLPlay™ format, featuring team matches composed of four 21-point games: one women's doubles, one men's doubles, and two mixed doubles. Teams play in a round robin pool, with guaranteed matches and a playoff bracket to determine the winning team.
All participating players must have a DUPR account, and teams are formed by combining the DUPR ratings of all four players. This rating-based structure ensures that competitive amateur pickleball remains fair, exciting, and reflective of each player's true skill level.
As Sports Illustrated has reported, pickleball's explosive growth at both the professional and amateur levels has created enormous demand for organized competitive formats that give everyday players a genuine tournament experience. The Dink Minor League Pickleball directly answers that demand.
For a full list of events and to sign up to participate as a player or host, please visit dupr.com/minorleague.
For further information on partnership and sponsor inquiries, reach out to thedinkteam@heydink.com.
About Minor League Pickleball
Minor League Pickleball offers an innovative team competition format, bringing together teams consisting of four players (two women and two men). Spanning multiple days, our events feature a unique and engaging format with exciting variations on traditional match-ups and scoring systems for games, matches, and tiebreakers.
With events hosted in 25 states across the nation, including 108 confirmed events and 7 Regionals, Minor League Pickleball has attracted over 8,000 players since its inception in 2022, providing a dynamic and competitive platform for pickleball players of all skill levels. For more information visit dupr.com/minorleague.
About DUPR
DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is the premier global pickleball rating system and technology platform, trusted by the world's leading clubs, tournaments, leagues and players. DUPR's dynamic rating system unifies pickleball across age, gender and location by analyzing match results to accurately evaluate all players across a 2.000 to 8.000 scale.
Players and operators can visit dupr.com to sign up and learn more. As The Dink has covered previously, DUPR's role as the official ratings partner of USA Pickleball cements its position as the gold standard for player evaluation at every level of the sport.
About The Dink
The Dink is pickleball's #1 media and news source, offering a range of content via its newsletters, website, podcast network and social media channels. The Dink publishes daily to over 1 million pickleball players of all levels, covering news, stories, tips and strategy, product reviews, pro analysis and basic information about the sport.
The Dink is also the creator of The Pickleball Box, a pickleball subscription box, and hosts a number of pro, amateur and celebrity events throughout the year. Visit thedinkpickleball.com to learn more.
Want to advertise with us? If your company is interested in reaching an audience of active pickleballers, give us a shout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Dink Minor League Pickleball and How Does It Work?
The Dink Minor League Pickleball is a joint venture between Minor League Pickleball and The Dink, the sport's leading media platform, designed to bring organized team competition to amateur players across the United States. Teams of four players (two women and two men) compete in a structured format that mirrors the professional game, with guaranteed matches, round-robin pools, and playoff brackets at each event.
Do I Need a DUPR Rating to Participate in Minor League Pickleball Events?
Yes, all participating players must have a DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) account to compete in The Dink Minor League Pickleball. Teams are assembled by combining the individual DUPR ratings of all four players, which ensures balanced and competitive matchups at every event.
How Many Minor League Pickleball Events Are Planned for 2024?
The Dink Minor League Pickleball is targeting more than 200 events in the US in 2024, including seven regional tournaments and a national championship in December at the Missouri Pickleball Club in Fenton, MO. The league also has plans to expand internationally, making it the largest amateur pickleball league in the world.
Can Amateur Players Win Prize Money in Minor League Pickleball?
Yes, competitive amateur pickleball players have the opportunity to win prize money at The Dink Minor League Pickleball events. The national championship in particular features a significant prize pool, offering players at every skill level a real financial incentive to compete and improve.
How Can I Sign Up to Play or Host a Minor League Pickleball Event?
Players and potential event organizers can register at dupr.com/minorleague, where the full schedule of upcoming events is available. For partnership and sponsorship inquiries, you can contact The Dink team directly at thedinkteam@heydink.com.
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