PPA Announces Strategic Partnership with FILA Pickleball and Fromuth Racquet Sports
| July 11, 2023
FILA Pickleball Joins PPA as Official Athletic Apparel and Footwear Supplier; the dink pickleball, powered by Fromuth, to Serve as Official Store
The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) announced today that it has agreed to an expansive retail partnership with FILA Pickleball and Fromuth Racquet Sports and will welcome both organizations aboard the Pro Tour in 2021 as exclusive providers. FILA Pickleball will serve as the Official Athletic Apparel and Footwear Supplier of the PPA Tour, with Fromuth launching a new website, thedinkpickleball.com, to serve as the Official Store of the PPA. The three-way partnership further solidifies the PPA as the premier Tour for the world’s fastest-growing sport by pairing the iconic FILA® brand and its offerings with the strategic vision and industry-leading reputation of Fromuth.
At the PPA, we believe that to “Play Where the Pros Play,” you should also play how the pros play, which includes using high-quality gear from a name you can trust. We are extremely excited to kick 2021 off with a bang by making it easier for pickleball fans to access all the best equipment and take their game to the next level. Don’t miss visiting the all-new Official Store of the PPA at each stop this year to enjoy the latest and greatest FILA and PPA offerings.
“As our sport has grown, we have had to grow and mature with it,” said Connor Pardoe, commissioner of the PPA. “With that comes the obligation to provide players and fans with a professional tour that operates at the highest level — right down to the lines that we paint, the referees we employ, and the sponsors that we collaborate with. We couldn’t be more proud to announce our latest partnership with both FILA and Fromuth, who we feel are the perfect choice for our association moving forward.”
As the Official Athletic Apparel and Footwear Supplier of the PPA Tour, FILA Pickleball will outfit staff, as well as offer special, co-branded PPA apparel and accessories throughout the 2021 season. FILA Pickleball’s line of pickleball-specific apparel and footwear, including the brand’s leading performance pickleball shoe, the Volley Zone, will now be available for purchase by the general public at PPA Tour events and through thedinkpickleball.com.
“The PPA and Fromuth Racquet Sports share our commitment to growing the sport of pickleball,” said Jennifer Estabrook, President of FILA North America. “Through this partnership, we see an incredible opportunity to expand our footprint in the sport, and bring our specially-designed product offerings to pickleball players of all ages, levels, and abilities across the country.”
For more than 40 years, Fromuth has been the industry leader in wholesale racquet sports distribution. The team at Fromuth will lead all logistics for thedinkpickleball.com to ensure the Official Store of the PPA offers the latest pickleball gear, apparel, and equipment.
“Operating The Dink Pickleball website to serve as the Official Store of the PPA is a great opportunity for us,” said Pat Shields, CEO of Fromuth Racquet Sports. “We are honored to be a part of the partnership with FILA and the PPA. For a company like ours that’s been committed to the racquet sports industry for more than 40 years, this represents a great new addition to our business model.”
About Professional Pickleball Association
The PPA was founded in 2018 as the premier provider of professional and amateur pickleball tournaments for all ages. In 2021, we will welcome between 15,000–20,000 players to our events and award over 1 million in total payouts to players. We currently host tournaments in the U.S. and Canada and are looking at expanding to the international stage as the sport continues to evolve. The PPA separates itself from the competition through its world-class venues, high-level partnerships, and generous prize money. We maintain a professional experience and atmosphere in everything we do in order to continuously out-perform expectations and place pickleball squarely on the map of bona fide professional sports.
About FILA
2021 marks the 110th anniversary of the FILA® brand, which was established by the FILA brothers of Biella, Italy. FILA® is now a leading sport and leisure footwear and apparel brand that is distributed worldwide. FILA has achieved world-class recognition in tennis by marketing high design and style content products that are endorsed by professional athletes from around the world.
About Fromuth Racquet Sports
Fromuth Racquet Sports is a wholesale distributor of racquet sports equipment and apparel. Since 1978, Fromuth has been serving pro shops, retail establishments, and tennis teams across the United States, offering same-day shipping, large inventories, and top-notch customer service. In addition to wholesale distribution, Fromuth leads all operations and staffing at the USTA National Campus Pro Shop and Racquet Bar in Orlando, Florida.
