Think you can play pro pickleball? The Kitchen hosting open tryouts for MLP this month
Last Edited
Feb 06 2025
Category
News
After taking over a Major League Pickleball team late last year, The Kitchen announced this week that the Frisco Pandas will be relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, marking a new era for one of the original MLP franchises.
The move also comes with a name change: the Pandas will now be known as the Nashville Chefs.
The move comes as our founder Jared Paul assumes General Manager duties, overseeing roster decisions and shaping the future of the team.
Open tryouts for serious players
While open tryouts are common in international soccer and MMA, they are virtually unheard of in team-based professional sports in the U.S. The open tryout is set to change that on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at The Kitchen's Austin, Texas HQ.
One man and one woman will be offered a UPA contract and thus be eligible for the Major League Pickleball draft in March. It's an opportunity never seen before in professional pickleball OR, to the best our knowledge, at any major league sports team.
The winner will receive a UPA contract, a Proton sponsorship, and a shoe deal, making this an unprecedented opportunity for rising talent to break into the sport overnight.
The Kitchen Pickleball has a proven track record of running high-stakes events that identify real talent. Previous winners of The Kitchen Open have gone on to successful pro careers, proving that undiscovered gems are waiting to be found.
Why Nashville?
With Nashville’s thriving sports culture, growing pickleball community and strong corporate sponsorship opportunities, the move makes perfect sense.
The ownership group — which includes Dude Perfect and NFL star Dak Prescott — believes relocating to Music City will help the franchise reach new fans and elevate its brand.
“The excitement and energy around pickleball in Nashville is incredible,” Paul said. “This city is the perfect place to grow the game, build a passionate fanbase and bring in new sponsors who want to be a part of something special.”
What’s next?
As the team finalizes its rebrand and roster, big announcements are coming soon. More tryout details will be released in the coming weeks, and the team’s new identity will soon follow.
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