Led by new proprietor Hugh Zhang, the previous Nashville Cooks franchise returns to MLP with plans to host a league occasion in Houston subsequent season.
Main League Pickleball is increasing to 21 groups for the 2027 season, saying Wednesday that the Houston Hammers will be part of the league beneath a brand new possession group led by Hugh Zhang.
The transfer brings skilled group pickleball again to one of many sport’s largest markets whereas reviving a franchise with roots courting to MLP’s inaugural season in 2021.
The Hammers had been most just lately generally known as the Nashville Cooks, a franchise that has undergone a number of identification modifications since debuting as Workforce Clear in 2021.
The group’s winding historical past contains stops as Clear Trigger (2022), Frisco Clear Trigger (2023), Frisco Pandas (2024) and Nashville Cooks (2025). The franchise sat out the 2026 season.
Now, beneath Zhang’s management, the Hammers want to set up a extra everlasting identification in Houston.
“Houston is without doubt one of the high pickleball markets within the nation, and we’re thrilled to deliver Main League Pickleball to our metropolis,” Zhang mentioned within the announcement.
“Our imaginative and prescient is to construct a first-class sports activities model that delivers an distinctive fan expertise, develops native expertise, and creates a long-lasting legacy in Houston sports activities.”
Extra Than Simply an MLP Workforce
The brand new possession group has plans that stretch past the skilled roster.
The Hammers intend to host an MLP occasion within the Houston market in 2027, preserve their CSP Champion senior group and area a Jr. Hammers squad in Jr. MLP.
The aim is to construct a unified pickleball model spanning skilled, junior, senior and minor league competitors.
The announcement additionally comes on the heels of a record-setting 2026 season for MLP.
In keeping with the league, on-site attendance elevated 69% yr over yr, ticket income climbed 87% and minutes watched on Pickleballtv rose 32%. Social media impressions and interactions additionally grew 61% and 106%, respectively.
MLP additionally reported new broadcast and cable viewership data, together with 733,000 viewers for its championship finals on CBS.
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What’s Subsequent for the Hammers?
A number of essential particulars stay unresolved, together with how Houston will purchase its roster for 2027.
MLP says extra info on participant acquisition, keeper deadlines, the upcoming draft and the total 2027 schedule shall be introduced within the coming weeks.
For now, the Hammers’ return offers MLP its twenty first franchise and Houston one other main presence in skilled pickleball.
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