Major League Pickleball playoffs coming to San Diego’s Barnes Center

Major League Pickleball is coming to San Diego for the first time this weekend, and signs are that it won’t be the last.

The Toray MLP playoffs run Friday through Sunday at the Barnes Center to determine the four semifinal teams for the championships in New York Aug. 22-24.

“If this goes well, why wouldn’t we come back?” MLP commissioner Samin Odhwani said. “Look at New York: We had a regular-season event there last year in Central Park, it was a massive success, and now we’re back there for our finals.”

Odhwani noted that San Diego’s high pickleball involvement and good weather led the league to reach out to the Barnes Center to host the event.

In addition, San Diego is being considered for an MLP expansion franchise, he said. The league currently has 16 teams in the premier league and six more on the challenger level.

What’s needed is an investor willing to join the fifth-year organization that has been a magnet for celebrity owners such as athletes Kevin Durant, Drew Brees, and Patrick Mahomes and actors Eva Longoria and Michael B. Jordan. The franchise fee is $15 million. Pickleball draws from tennis, table tennis and badminton to form a fast-paced court sport.

“What’s exciting with our ownership groups is you get to really lean in,” said Odhwani, citing both involvement in team organization and marketing. “Importantly, there’s the chance to build something.”

MLP and the Professional Pickleball Association merged a year ago but have retained separate identities. MLP matches have a more festive atmosphere complete with loud cheering and music.

“We can achieve one plus one equals three,” Odhwani said. “What has been exciting is you’ve seen fans sometimes gravitate towards one or the other, which gives us the conviction to say, ‘Okay, we can pull more people into the sport by doing it this way.”’

The schedules of the two tours were interwoven this year, but plans call for separation next year. The MLP will play in the summer and the PPA in the spring and fall.

Odhwani started in MLP through his involvement in 35V, Durant’s investment firm. Durant was a co-owner of the then-Brooklyn Aces during his stint with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. After leaving the Nets, Durant later switched to ownership in the D.C. Pickleball Team near his hometown of St. Pleasant, Md.

In turn, Odhwani became the MLP commissioner ahead of this season.

“The main goal was (to) stabilize the ship, get consistent about how we’re producing events and offer a great fan experience,” said Odhwani, who also formerly worked in the NBA league office. “And what I’m proud of is especially that last one. I mean, the amount of times we get feedback saying, ‘Oh, my gosh, I didn’t know it was like this, that was so much fun, or I’m bringing my family next year.’

“I think as we look to next year, it’s really centered on getting to more team markets and expanding on our TV viewership.”

MLP currently has TV deals with ESPN, Fox and CBS as well as regional sports networks. Sunday’s 10 a.m. match will be shown on ESPN2 — live from San Diego.

Toray Major League Pickleball playoffs

When: Friday through Sunday

Where: Barnes Center

Tickets: $25 for a grounds pass, $40-60 for courtside seats depending on the day, and $250 for VIP seats. Available through tixr.com. Additional fees and taxes apply.

Parking: $20, no cash accepted

Starting times: 10 a.m. Friday; 11 a.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. Sunday.

At stake: Qualifying for the MLP championships, which take place Aug. 22-24 in New York. Four teams advance from the Premier League and two from the Challenger League.

Format: The field includes the top 10 teams from the regular-season standings. While the top six teams receive a first-round bye, the others play a single-elimination match for the last two spots in the quarterfinals. Then the teams each compete in a best-of-three series. All six of the Challenger squads are entered.

Who’s playing: The St. Louis Shock won the Premier regular-season title, followed by the Dallas Flash and the New Jersey 5S. MVP candidates are Anna Bright (St. Louis), Jorja Johnson (Dallas), JW Johnson (Dallas), Hayden Patriquin (St. Louis), Gabe Tardio (St. Louis) and Anna Leigh Waters (New Jersey).

Amateur tournament: In conjunction with the MLP playoffs, some 300 amateurs will compete in their own tourney.

Online: majorleaguepickleball.com.

GLAE THIEN