Major League Pickleball today announced the addition of a new franchise, the Palm Beach Royals , for the 2026 season.

We're told it's "the highest team valuation in league history." We know whose bank account the purchase came from: Zach Hunter and Taylor Meyer of Hyperspace Ventures. And we know the Royals will be in the mix for the 2026 MLP season.

We also know, at least for now, it's the fourth MLP team located in Florida.

I wonder how the Florida Smash, Miami Pickleball Club, and Orlando Squeeze feel about this. Florida now has more than 1/6 of all MLP teams

— Zane Navratil (@ZaneNavratil) August 1, 2025

No word yet on what the valuation was, what level they'll be competing in, or who the GM will be.

But, MLP assures us:

League operations around the Royals, including the player acquisition process, will be announced during the upcoming off-season. Read the full press release, emailed to the media Friday afternoon, August 1:

Major League Pickleball Announces Expansion for 2026 with Formation of the Palm Beach Royals Franchise Purchased at League Record Valuation by Tech Entrepreneurs Zach Hunter and Taylor Meyer Major League Pickleball (MLP presented by DoorDash) today announced the formation of the expansion Palm Beach Royals , who will begin play in 2026. The team was purchased at a record-high valuation by Zach Hunter and Taylor Meyer of Hyperspace Ventures. “The addition of an expansion franchise at the highest team valuation in league history speaks loudly ... FULL ARTICLE FOUND ON: https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/mlp-adds-new-expansion-franchise-the-palm-beach-royals/