Padel League Secures Services of HS&E for Sponsorship and Media Consultancy

In a strategic move that underscores the growing trend of specialized sports management companies, the Pro Padel League (PPL) and LIV Golf have been managed by Horizon Sports & Experiences since their inception. This shared management is set to create synergies in sports promotion, fan experience, and commercial opportunities across both padel and golf.

Horizon Sports & Experiences, a leading player in the sports management industry, has a diverse portfolio that includes advising the NBA, women's 3-on-3 basketball league Unrivaled, Top Rank Boxing, and combat sports promotion ONE Championship. The company's involvement with the PPL marks its entry into the world of padel, a racquet sport combining elements of tennis and squash that has a wider profile outside of the U.S.

The second season of the PPL is set to begin at Miami's Wayfair Arena on June 19, with Adidas joining as an on-court sponsor. The league has also partnered with Horizon Sports & Experiences for managing sponsorships and media rights. With a recent $10 million seed round, led by Left Lane Capital, the league plans to increase player incentives, build out its executive team, and establish permanent headquarters.

The PPL, which launched in 2023 with 10 teams across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, streams its events through its YouTube channel. After the Miami kick-off, the league will make stops in San Sebastian, Spain, and Guadalajara, Mexico. The All-Star event for the PPL will take place in the Hamptons out on Long Island at the end of August.

The league has attracted investors from the sports and entertainment worlds, including Daddy Yankee, Gavin Maloof, Tommy Haas, Juan Martín del Potro, Filip Forsberg, Jacob Markström, Mattias Ekholm, Anders Nilsson, and several NHLers from Sweden. The PPL events reach over 300 million people through media distribution across over 100 countries, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by David Levy, founder and co-CEO of Horizon Sports & Experiences.

The upcoming season of the PPL will conclude in New York City in October, with AFP Courts as the official court supplier. The league's strategic alignment with Horizon Sports & Experiences hints at a broader vision to capitalize on emerging and established sports markets, amplifying their global reach and fan engagement.

Meanwhile, Horizon Sports & Experiences will pursue league-level sponsorships and build a go-to-market plan for media partners. The company has established partnerships with Verizon, PayPal, and Paramount+, which could potentially facilitate shared sponsorship deals and media rights negotiations for both the PPL and LIV Golf.

This shared management underscores a growing trend of specialized sports management companies overseeing multiple sports properties to maximize operational efficiency and market impact. As the Pro Padel League and LIV Golf embark on their respective seasons, the synergies created by Horizon Sports & Experiences are poised to drive growth and innovation in both leagues.

People within the sports industry are observing the strategic alliance between Horizon Sports & Experiences, the Pro Padel League (PPL), and LIV Golf, as it showcases the growing trend of sports management companies handling multiple properties.
Horizon Sports & Experiences, in addition to managing the PPL, has initiated discussions with potential financial partners, such as Left Lane Capital, to increase player incentives, bolster their executive team, and establish permanent headquarters.
With the help of Horizon Sports & Experiences, the PPL and LIV Golf will collaborate on securing league-level sponsors and media rights negotiations, a move that could potentially lead to shared partnerships with firms like Verizon, PayPal, and Paramount+.