The Secret Story Behind DUPR's Birth and Its Current Operations | Steve Kuhn, Dreamland, Agassi, and its Relationship with MLP

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2026年6月22日

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The Secret Story Behind DUPR's Birth and Its Current Operations | Steve Kuhn, Dreamland, Agassi, and its Relationship with MLP

DUPR has become a global standard, but understanding its origins and who operates it will, I believe, make it even more interesting.

I'm Coach Yoshi. I've been playing tennis for 15 years and discovered pickleball in 2026. This article is a "reading piece" you can enjoy at your leisure. It traces the birth story of DUPR and its current operational structure. If you're wondering what DUPR is, start with What is DUPR?

※Figures, investment amounts, and years are based on official information at the time of writing. Please check dupr.com for the latest details.

It Began in 2021 with Steve Kuhn and Dreamland

DUPR was launched in 2021 by Steve Kuhn.

Kuhn is the individual who built Dreamland, a large-scale pickleball facility (a complex with 15-16 courts) in Dripping Springs, Texas (near Austin). Driven by the desire to "create a place to celebrate pickleball and good times with family and friends," he realized that the sport needed an "easy and fair rating system."

In fact, DUPR's name was originally Dreamland Universal Pickleball Rating (a rating from Dreamland). It later evolved into its current name, Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating.

💡 Coach Yoshi's Point DUPR was born from a practical need: "I want a system at my facility that allows people of similar skill levels to enjoy playing together." I believe that this player-centric beginning is one of the reasons it became a global standard.

Steve Kuhn is also the Founder of MLP

Timeline diagram showing the birth of Dreamland's rating, the founding of MLP, and the transition to a new system

Steve Kuhn is also known as the founder of the team-based league, MLP (Major League Pickleball). Therefore, DUPR and MLP were originally closely related.

The fact that MLP, a professional team competition, and DUPR, which quantifies skill, were both conceived by the same person, I believe, created the foundation for DUPR to be used in professional settings. For an overview of MLP and the professional tour, please see What are MLP and the PPA Tour?

2024: A New System (David Kass, Andre Agassi)

DUPR reached a major turning point in 2024.

David Kass was appointed as the new owner and Chairman (a real estate developer who also owns an MLP team).
Legendary tennis player Andre Agassi and investment firm Raine Ventures invested.
The reported investment was approximately $8 million, acquiring a controlling stake.
Operations continued under CEO Tito Machado.

Andre Agassi's involvement, a tennis legend, created a significant buzz in the pickleball world. It was a symbolic event that connected the worlds of tennis and pickleball.

Moving Beyond Being "MLP's Younger Sibling"

Because DUPR was originally closely associated with MLP, it was sometimes perceived as "MLP's nerdy sibling." However, since the new system, it has solidified its position as an independent global standard rating organization. Today, it has become a "common language" used in clubs and tournaments worldwide, including PPA and MLP.

The initiative to further enhance its reliability is DUPR Verified, which combats sandbagging. This marks the journey of the rating evolving from "just a number" to a "reliable official metric."

Summary

DUPR was launched in 2021 by Steve Kuhn (originating from the Dreamland facility in Texas).
The name was initially Dreamland~, later becoming Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating.
Kuhn is also the founder of MLP, laying the groundwork for its adoption in professional settings.
In 2024, David Kass became the new chairman. Andre Agassi + Raine Ventures invested approximately $8 million, with Tito Machado continuing as CEO.
It evolved from "MLP's younger sibling" to an independent global standard.

Understanding its origins reveals why DUPR is trusted worldwide. For how it's used in professional settings, see MLP and DUPR. Let's continue to track the expansion of the pickleball world together.