In a move that further consolidates its leadership position in pickleball, Franklin Sports has been named Official Title Sponsor of the US Open Pickleball Championships, marking a multi-year expansion of its presence at the sport’s most recognizable global event.
The agreement arrives as The Open celebrates its 10th anniversary, with the 2026 edition scheduled for April 11–18 in Naples, Florida. For Franklin, the elevation from longstanding Official Ball partner to Title Sponsor reflects both brand maturity and strategic investment in pickleball’s flagship platform.
From Official Ball to Center Court
Franklin has served as the tournament’s Official Ball since 2016, with its X-40 model widely regarded as one of the sport’s benchmark products. The new title sponsorship formalizes what has effectively been a decade-long integration into the event’s competitive infrastructure.
Adam Franklin, president of Franklin Sports, characterized the partnership as a “natural next step,” reinforcing the company’s commitment to growing the game at every level — from grassroots participation to professional competition.
Tournament leadership echoed that sentiment, noting Franklin’s expanded role in shaping the player and fan experience during the milestone anniversary.
Retail Activation Meets Athlete Marketing
Beyond naming rights, Franklin is deploying a comprehensive on-site activation strategy in Naples. The company will showcase its new Anna Leigh Waters C45° Signature Paddle Series through direct-to-consumer retail experiences and branded installations throughout the venue, including oversized inflatable X-40 pickleballs for fan engagement and product seeding in player welcome bags.
Franklin’s athlete portfolio will also be prominently featured, with sponsored professionals including Anna Leigh Waters, Leigh Waters, Megan Fudge, and others competing across divisions during the weeklong event.
The activation strategy reflects a broader industry trend: leveraging tentpole tournaments not just for visibility, but for experiential retail, influencer integration, and product storytelling at scale.
A Defining Moment for Pickleball’s Premier Event
Founded in 2016 and hosted annually at the USOP National Pickleball Center at East Naples Community Park, the US Open Pickleball Championships has positioned itself as the sport’s destination event — blending professional competition, amateur participation, and festival-style entertainment under the banner “The Biggest Pickleball Party in the World™.”
For Franklin Sports, a family-owned company founded in 1946 with partnerships spanning MLB, MLS, the NBA, and USA Pickleball, the title sponsorship signals pickleball’s firm placement within its core strategic growth pillars.
As pickleball’s commercial ecosystem continues to mature — driven by equipment innovation, pro tour expansion, and brand consolidation — Franklin’s center-court positioning at the sport’s signature championship underscores a simple reality: major sporting goods manufacturers now view pickleball not as an emerging category, but as a cornerstone business.
