Sunday, April 2
First-of-its-kind competition to be televised live on ESPN
Four of America’s greatest tennis champions competing for $1 million
Horizon Sports & Experiences (HS&E), an innovative agency combining sports, experiential marketing and media capabilities, announced the Inaugural Pickleball Slam featuring tennis legends Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, John McEnroe, and Andy Roddickcompeting for a $1 million purse. Created and produced by HS&E and InsideOut Sports & Entertainment (ISE), the 2023 event will be held at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on Sunday, April 2 and will be televised live exclusively on ESPN at 12 PM Eastern, immediately ahead of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship.
“Pickleball is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon – experiencing a meteoric rise across genders, age groups, geographies, and income levels. The Slam, a multi-year partnership with the
Hard Rock, represents the convergence of culture and sport, giving brands an opportunity to engage with passionate fans and amateur players, as pickleball continues to gain popularity,” said David Levy, Co-CEO, HS&E. “We look forward to bringing together four of America’s most iconic tennis legends for this groundbreaking competition, which heralds a new milestone for the fastest growing sport in America.”
The Slam marks the start of a five-event partnership with Hard Rock, HS&E, and ISE, and showcases HS&E’s innovation, creativity, and engagement strategies that drive brand and business growth for sponsors. Future Pickleball Slams will be held at various Hard Rock locations. The inaugural Slam will feature two legends’ singles matches pitting Roddick versus Chang, followed by McEnroe versus Agassi in the second match. The final match of the day will be a doubles match with McEnroe and Chang competing against Roddick and Agassi. The final match will determine the split of the $1 million purse.“We are tremendously excited to be bringing the Inaugural Pickleball Slam to Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida,” said Keith Sheldon, President of Entertainment for Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming. “Hard Rock Live has become synonymous with big events, and to have four of the biggest names in American tennis battling for the largest purse in pickleball history on a national live broadcast will only serve to bolster this reputation. We are honored to partner with HS&E to debut The Slam at The Guitar Hotel.”The 2023 Pickleball Slam includes an amateur challenge, which will be played on Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1. It will include 96 doubles teams, entering on a first-come-first-in basis, vying for a $10,000 team prize, and a chance to compete against two of the tennis-turned-pickleball legends prior to the televised event on Sunday, April 2. The weekend also includes a Saturday night banquet featuring a Q&A with the tennis legends.
For more information and to register for the Slam Amateur Challenge, visit thepickleballslam.com. Tickets to the Slam go on sale Friday, Feb. 10.