Golf Meets Pickleball

This week in RADL Wire, the worlds of racquets, golf, and commerce collide as major industry crossovers take center stage. The PGA Show 2026 will expand to include Racquet Sports at the PGA Show — a new “show within a show” spotlighting the booming tennis, pickleball, and padel markets alongside golf’s biggest brands in Orlando next January. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal will headline VTEX Connect Europe 2025 in Lisbon during Web Summit week, connecting his championship legacy with the future of AI-driven digital commerce. In New York, the Pro Padel League’s City’s Cup Finals will light up the Hammerstein Ballroom this October, uniting sport, culture, and technology through premier brand partnerships. And on the global stage, Netflix serves up the Six Kings Slam, streaming live from Riyadh with tennis’ biggest names battling for the crown.

• Racquet Sports at the PGA Show

• Pro Padel League City’s Cup Finals

• Arizona High School Pickleball Championships

• Made for TV - Six Kings Slam Returns to Netflix

RACQUET SPORTS AT THE PGA SHOW

World’s Largest Global Golf Business Event Expands to Feature “Racquet Sports at the PGA Show”

The PGA Show — the world’s largest and longest running global golf business gathering — will return to the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida, January 20–23, 2026, with an exciting new addition: Racquet Sports at the PGA Show, a brand-new “show within a show” that integrates the fast-growing racquet sports category into the industry’s flagship event. Building on the momentum of the record-setting 2025 PGA Show, the 2026 edition will introduce multiple new offerings designed to broaden the event’s reach and industry impact.

The expansion of Racquet Sports at the PGA Show marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the Show experience. Racquet sports participation continues to surge — with tennis up 33 percent since 2020, pickleball growing 59 percent since 2022 to 8.9 million players, and padel emerging as the world’s fastest-growing sport with over 25 million players* — and has become a natural complement to golf, creating vibrant, multi-sport environments that drive member engagement and unlock new revenue opportunities.

Racquet Sports at the PGA Show will feature a dedicated Show Floor area for pickleball, tennis, padel, squash and other racquet sports product displays, and offer educational programming, live demonstrations and fun peer-to-peer special events.  LEARN MORE

INDUSTRY NEWS

From the Court to Commerce: Tennis Champion Rafael Nadal to Headline VTEX Connect Europe 2025

VTEX, the sole Customers’ Choice commerce platform for two years by Gartner® and trusted by global brands including Colgate, Stanley Black & Decker, and Whirlpool, announces that 22-time Grand Slam tennis champion and entrepreneur Rafael Nadal, will headline VTEX Connect Europe on November 11, 2025, at Pavilhão Carlos Lopes in Lisbon, Portugal.

Held alongside Web Summit 2025, the world’s largest technology gathering, VTEX Connect Europe on November 11 has become the premier evening for global digital commerce to unite. The event will bring together thousands from retail, manufacturing, and technology to uncover ways enterprise digital commerce and AI has transformed operations, customer experience, and growth strategy.

Pro Padel League City’s Cup Finals to Take Over Hammerstein Ballroom with Elite Lineup of Partners

The Pro Padel League (PPL) today announced its full lineup of brand partners for the City’s Cup Finals, taking place October 16–19 at iconic Hammerstein Ballroom. The multi-day championship event marks the culmination of the PPL season — bringing world-class padel to a landmark New York stage and uniting sport, culture, and technology through a slate of dynamic brand collaborations.

Blending elite competition with elevated fan experiences, the City’s Cup Finals showcase the sport’s rapid ascent in the United States and the caliber of brands investing in its growth.

HonorHealth Named Title Sponsor for Arizona High School Pickleball Championships Dec. 6 & 7, 2025

HonorHealth has signed on as the title sponsor of the inaugural Arizona High School Pickleball Championships 2025, powered by PURE, elevating the event and supporting a movement to make pickleball a high school sport in Arizona. The Championships will take place Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 & 7, at Dink & Dine Pickle Park in Mesa.

MADE FOR TV

Six Kings Slam Returns to Netflix: A Royal Showdown in Riyadh

The Six Kings Slam is back — and it’s bigger than ever. Streaming live and exclusively on Netflix, Oct. 15–18, this made-for-spectacle tournament brings together six of men’s tennis’ biggest stars for one electrifying weekend in Riyadh. Defending champion Jannik Sinner returns to face Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Taylor Fritz in a battle for the crown at the ANB Arena. Fans can expect cinematic coverage with drone shots, wirecams, and augmented-reality graphics that capture every moment of world-class play. Part of Riyadh Season’s global entertainment lineup, the Six Kings Slam continues Netflix’s expansion into live sports, joining WWE Raw and the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis fight on its growing roster of marquee events.