While the Florida Panthers celebrated their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship this offseason, their captain had something different in mind. Aleksander Barkov, fresh off another dominant season, wasn’t content with just conquering the hockey world. He decided to step into a completely new arena, partnering with another sports superstar to take on a new challenge.
How Did Aleksander Barkov Become a Pickleball Team Owner?
The Florida Panthers have been one of the NHL’s most formidable teams in recent years, and much of that success is thanks to Barkov’s leadership. He has guided the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2024 and 2025. On a personal level, the star center has won the Selke Trophy thrice, including in each of the last two seasons.
Despite building a Hall of Fame-caliber resume, Barkov is clearly not satisfied with his on-ice achievements.
Now, fans can add another title to his list of accomplishments: part-owner of the Palm Beach Royals, a Major League Pickleball franchise. The team announced Tuesday that the Finnish star has officially joined as a co-owner, marking a significant move into the business side of sports.
Also: Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is now part-owner of a Major League Pickleball team
Another member of the group: Canada’s US Open champion, Bianca Andreescu https://t.co/J9VbzRe7zf
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 9, 2025
However, Barkov isn’t the only star with a stake in the expansion franchise. The Hyperspace Ventures ownership group also includes tennis star and former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu and former Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II.
The Royals are set to make their debut in the 2026 MLP season, becoming the fourth team from Florida to join the growing league. Thanks to a significant investment, the ownership group plans for the Royals to compete at the Premier Level immediately.
While most expansion teams, like the Florida Smash, which joined the league in 2025, typically start at the Challenger Level, Hyperspace’s $16 million investment ensures the Royals will bypass that step. Instead, they will immediately compete alongside established teams like the Orlando Crush and Miami Pickleball Club.
The investment group is led by Zach Taylor and Taylor Meyer, who were former NCAA tennis teammates at the University of North Carolina. Speaking to the Sports Business Journal, they mentioned that the fundraising exceeded their expectations.
They said, “Fifteen million dollars was actually the initial target we had in our term sheet, and we could raise it to $16 million if it went oversubscribed. It sold out far quicker than we thought.”
According to SBJ, the ownership group also includes notable figures from outside the sports world. The investor list features Ultimate Software founder Scott Scherr, Advertising Week CEO Lance Pillersdorf, and Lyrical Partners founder Jeff Keswin. While his co-investors are focused on pickleball’s growth potential, Barkov sees an opportunity to extend Florida’s sporting success beyond the ice.
