The Hollywood sign.
The names of the Entertainment Pickleball League (EPL) teams are fun, to say the least. Shutterstock

Entertainment Pickleball League another indicator Hollywood loves our sport

The Calabasas Pickleball Club recently hosted a rather unique event featuring some key Hollywood figures.

On Nov. 16, the Entertainment Pickleball League’s (EPL) championship tournament included agents and executives hitting the court and representing a host of entertainment companies.

According to a story in The Hollywood Reporter, participating teams included Disney’s Monster Dinks, NBCUni’s Dis-Pickleball Me, CAA’s Dill Makers, The Gersh agency’s Let’s F*cking Gersh, and Netflix’s Netflix and Dill.

The Gersh agency actually won the title over Netflix.

"We started with four teams," said Zee Batal, the TV producer who founded the league in September alongside reality TV showrunner Erica Hanson. "Now we have eight. By January, we’ll have 16. Everyone from Amazon to Roku to Sony."

America's fastest-growing sport is clearly impact the entertainment sphere in Southern California.
Pickleball is impacting the entertainment sphere in Southern California. Shutterstock

Hanson explained that the league provides the perfect setting for industry folks to interact in a cool environment "that doesn't involve stealing one another's clients."

"It’s fantastic to see this sense of community and connecting," mentioned Hanson.

Batal, meanwhile, believes that America's fastest-growing sport is already a Hollywood favorite for business-related activities and negotiation.

"It’s just easier to do business on the pickleball court," said Batal. "It’s more social, not as stuffy. If tennis is like boxing, then pickleball is like MMA fighting."

The EPL's official website says the league is "a platform designed exclusively for the entertainment industry, bringing together Streamers, Agencies, Studios, Broadcasters, Production Companies, Social Media platforms, Record Labels, and Celebrities" and "a place where entertainment professionals can come together to compete, network, and showcase their skills."