Imperial, a brand from Top 40 supplier Sportsman Cap & Bag (asi/88877), is part of a first in the world of pickleball – the fastest-growing sport in the United States.

Sportsman Cap & Bag announced that Imperial has been named the first-ever official licensed headwear partner of Major League Pickleball (MLP).

Fans can now find the MLP headwear products in the new Major League Pickleball Collection from Imperial. The line will feature MLP logoed products, as well as smaller capsule collections for all 24 teams in the league, brand leaders said.

“As a trusted partner of MLP, we’re honored to create this innovative, first-of-its kind product offering for fans of pickleball everywhere,” said Todd Johnson, CEO of Imperial. “We look forward to becoming an integral part of the fabric of pickleball.”

Sportsman Cap & Bag is offering blank versions of the cap styles, which include The Original Performance X210P, The Wrightson 5054, and The Wingman 7054. “Imperial is a trusted brand with a long history in the industry,” said Dan Saferstein, president of Sportsman Cap & Bag. “We’re excited to see what impact it has on a relatively new, fast-growing sport like pickleball.”

Pickleball has indeed soared in popularity. The Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) shares that the sport has been the fastest growing in America for three straight years, with participation accelerating 158.6%.

According to APP, 14% of Americans over the age of 18 played pickleball between August 2021 and August 2022 – some 36.5 million people. There’s money in it, too: The pickleball paddle market size was estimated at $152.8 million in 2021 and is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.7% through 2028.

For the uninitiated, pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It can be played indoors or outdoors on tennis-like courts. Either two or four players use solid-faced rackets/paddles to strike a perforated hollow plastic ball over a 34-inch-high net.

Based on reported 2021 North American promotional product revenue of $121.2 million, Sportsman Cap & Bag ranked 11^th on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry. The new rankings, based on 2022 performance, are due out in July.

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