LOTTO Partners with Brooklyn Aces, Marking a Historic Entry into Professional Pickleball

LOTTO Becomes First Athletic Brand to Co-Own a Professional Pickleball Team with Brooklyn Aces Partnership and investment.

By Benjamin Webster

LOTTO®, the renowned Italian sports brand, has announced a strategic partnership with the Brooklyn Aces, a professional pickleball team co-owned by sports and entertainment icons Kevin Durant, Rich Kleiman, Drake, and Michael B. Jordan. This collaboration makes LOTTO the first athletic brand to join the ownership group of a professional pickleball team.

As part of this landmark partnership, LOTTO’s branding will be prominently featured in the Brooklyn Aces logo and on the players’ apparel. Established in 1973, LOTTO is celebrated for its innovative performance-driven footwear, apparel, and accessories, particularly in tennis and soccer. This partnership also designates LOTTO as the official apparel sponsor for the Brooklyn Aces, reflecting the brand’s recent expansion into the rapidly growing sport of pickleball.

Jameel Spencer, Chief Marketing Officer, Fashion & Athletic Verticals at WHP Global, which owns the LOTTO brand, emphasized the synergy between LOTTO’s heritage and the burgeoning pickleball scene. “With LOTTO’s heritage in soccer and racquet sports, pickleball’s explosion on the scene presents a natural opportunity for brand growth,” Spencer said. “The ownership group assembled by the Brooklyn Aces offers a dynamic blend of culture and sports that makes this venture an exciting investment.”

Rich Kleiman, CEO of Boardroom and majority owner of the Brooklyn Aces, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. “We’re incredibly excited to welcome LOTTO as part of the Brooklyn Aces team,” Kleiman said. “Not only are they committed to the growth of this team, but to the growth of pickleball as a whole.”

Entering their second year in Major League Pickleball, the Brooklyn Aces will benefit from LOTTO’s premier gear and apparel, reinforcing LOTTO’s commitment to becoming a leader in the pickleball community. This partnership not only elevates the Brooklyn Aces but also signifies LOTTO’s dedication to supporting the growth and popularity of pickleball in the United States.

In 2023, LOTTO further solidified its presence in the U.S. market by partnering with DICK’s Sporting Goods as the anchor retail partner for its soccer and racquet sport products. This latest venture with the Brooklyn Aces continues to demonstrate LOTTO’s strategic expansion and influence in the sports world.