Continued Momentum for DUPR Collegiate Pickleball As It Establishes Foothold as Leader in Collegiate Space
Austin, TX and Dallas, TX (March 11, 2024) – DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) and Rally Republic, the first California-inspired pickleball lifestyle brand, are teaming up to enhance DUPR Collegiate Pickleball events and bring more resources and support to college pickleball overall.
The partnership marks another significant milestone for DUPR Collegiate Pickleball, the fastest-growing and largest collegiate pickleball tournament series. Pickleball’s growth continues to skyrocket, and the collegiate space is no different. With more and more colleges and universities developing pickleball club teams, DUPR’s Collegiate Pickleball tournament series offers the most regional and national opportunities for individual and team collegiate competition, with the added bonus of competing for scholarship money.
“We are thrilled to support DUPR Collegiate Pickleball and partner with DUPR to offer more incentives, perks and opportunities for student athletes to compete in the world’s best game,” said Chad Phillips, president of Rally Republic. “DUPR Collegiate is the sport’s premier college series and we are looking forward to exposing our brand in front of student athletes and fans, and generating even more excitement and buzz for pickleball among this audience.”
Rally Republic’s line of licensed paddles featuring school and university names and mascots are incredibly popular with athletes, alumni and fans alike, not only for showcasing school pride but also for their high-quality handling and performance. As part of the partnership, Rally Republic will have an onsite presence at eight 2024 DUPR Collegiate Events, including the Super Regionals and both the Individual and Team Collegiate National Championships, to enable players and fans to engage with the brand and its paddles onsite.
“Both our organizations are dedicated to growing the game and building a global community of passionate players. It’s a natural fit to welcome Rally Republic onboard as partners of DUPR Collegiate Pickleball,” said Tito Machado, DUPR CEO. “DUPR Collegiate events are incredibly fun, high energy and the competition is top-notch. We are excited to build out activation opportunities for our players and fans with some of the best names in pickleball that will create an even more exciting environment for players and fans alike.”
DUPR has led the way in establishing competitive collegiate pickleball by creating compelling opportunities for players to compete, earn scholarship prize money and identify new pathways to continue to play. Since hosting its first college event in 2022, DUPR Collegiate Pickleball has hosted 16 events for 1300 athletes – including the largest collegiate pickleball tournament ever with over 350 players – and contributed over $250,000 in scholarship money and travel stipends for players.
As the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. with more than 48.3 million Americans playing pickleball, San Diego-based Rally Republic launched in 2023 as the first California-inspired lifestyle brand created specifically for pickleball enthusiasts. Founded by a team of successful entrepreneurs in the e-commerce, apparel, and licensed sports sectors, they saw an opportunity to bring their expertise to the world of pickleball and create a brand that offers high-quality yet design-focused pickleball paddles, which are now available for sale online at www.RallyRepublic.com and on Amazon.com, and in-store at U.S. college bookstores and sporting goods retail stores including Rally House and Gameday Spirit. Rally Republic’s product lineup will soon expand with plans to unveil apparel, equipment, and accessory lines.
For a full schedule of events, please visit dupr.com/collegiate
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About DUPR
DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is the premier global pickleball rating system and technology platform, trusted by the world's leading clubs, tournaments, leagues and players. DUPR's dynamic rating system unifies pickleball across age, gender and location by analyzing match results to accurately evaluate all players across a 2.000 - 8.000 scale. Players and operators can visit www.dupr.com to sign up and learn more.
About Rally Republic
San Diego-based Rally Republic is the first California-inspired lifestyle brand created specifically for pickleball enthusiasts. With a mission to provide both top-quality and design-focused pickleball paddles, apparel, equipment, and accessories, Rally Republic’s product lineup embodies the vibrant culture and laid-back spirit of the West Coast. Rally Republic also has licensing partnerships with most major U.S. colleges and universities, sororities, and fraternities, enabling pickleball players to showcase their college, sports team, and/or Greek spirit while on the court. For more information, visit Rally Republic:
- Online at www.RallyRepublic.com
- On Instagram at www.instagram.com/rallyrepublicofficial/
- On Facebook at www.facebook.com/therallyrepublic
- On TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@rallyrepublic
Media Contact
Erica Annon / DUPR / erica@mydupr.com
