Dallas pro franchise owner Molthan instrumental in sport’s local growth
Mark Molthan discovered pickleball several years back while on vacation with some golf buddies.
Now they are no longer his golf buddies. They’re his pickleball buddies.
As pickleball continues its meteoric growth from an oddball tennis offshoot to a billion-dollar industry in the global sports marketplace, the Park Cities builder has helped lead the charge.
Molthan is the founder and co-owner of the Dallas Flash, a Major League Pickleball franchise that won its league title a year ago.
The league’s postseason MLP Cup event is set to begin Oct. 31 at Brookhaven Country Club as part of the Professional Pickleball Association world championships. The franchise also hosted its first MLP tournament and festival in July at the newly renovated Pickler Universe in Carrollton.
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“This wave is still growing. It’s a pretty amazing phenomenon,” Molthan said. “We’re getting a fan base. It’s pretty cool to be a part of this ride.”
Indeed, Molthan has been an influential voice in helping pickleball become a global sensation with national broadcasts, major sponsors, high-profile investors, and celebrity endorsements.
“I love sports, and I love competing,” Molthan said, “It got me motivated again. I felt a little stale and got into this, and I loved it.”
The Dallas Flash was one of the original teams in MLP, which in 2022 merged with VIBE Pickleball — founded by Preston Hollow’s Tom Dundon — under the PPA umbrella. The coed franchise has since added Mark Cuban and his business partner, Todd Wagner, as co-owners.
Molthan said pickleball — essentially a tennis hybrid on a smaller court, with paddles instead of racquets and a larger plastic ball — has gained popularity because its appeal is so wide-ranging.
“There’s no bias to it. You can go to a local park and play with anybody and still have fun with it,” he said. “The pay is the same; there’s gender equity. It’s a sport where husband and wife can compete against each other, and many times the women are better.”
Meanwhile, Molthan hopes to continue growing the fast-paced sport by launching a youth program with the Flash. He’s also pushing to make it more of an indoor sport to mitigate weather challenges.
Pickler Universe recently opened with 24 indoor courts in a facility that previously housed volleyball and basketball tournaments. A similar renovation is taking place at the former Drive Nation complex near DFW Airport, which will include a stadium to host larger pickleball events. Both will be open for public play, too.
“You’re getting more eyeballs on it. The demographics are touching so many bases,” said Molthan, who also sees future Olympic potential. “There’s a long way to go until we see the top.”
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