Palm Beach will make history in 2026 as the Palm Beach Royals become the city’s first major professional sports franchise, joining Major League Pickleball as its 23rd team.
Hyperspace Ventures, a group of UNC-Chapel Hill alumni and tech entrepreneurs, acquired the team for a record $16 million. The ownership group includes former Tar Heel tennis players Zach Hunter, Taylor Meyer and Alex Rafiee, alongside fellow alumnus Peter Fox.
The star-studded ownership roster also features Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, former UNC basketball stars Tyler Hansbrough and Marvin Williams, Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowler Kenny Moore II, and successful founders Mitch Heath of Teamworks, Jeff Keswin of Lyrical Partners, Lance Pillersdorf of Advertising Week and Scott Scherr of Ultimate Software…