Platform

Kick, OTK Partner With Texas Ranchers For Creator Pickleball Tournament In Austin

Published on October 1, 2025

Live streaming platform Kick has partnered with creator network OTK and the Texas Ranchers Major League Pickleball team to host the “OTK Creator Smash Pickleball Invitational” on October 11 at the Austin Pickle Ranch in Austin, Texas.

The creator-led tournament comes as Kick surpasses the 1 billion hours watched threshold in Q2 2025, a 28.1% increase from the previous quarter, according to Stream Charts data. The platform now claims 3.74% of the overall livestreaming market.

While gaming content comprises the majority of Kick’s total viewership, with “GTA V” as its most popular game, the pickleball tournament represents the platform’s strategy to diversify content offerings.

“Facilitating organic opportunities for streamers to produce engaging content for their audience is what KICK Studios is all about,” Andrew Santamaria, Head of KICK Studios, said in a statement. “Uniting your favorite creators and pickleball athletes will hopefully generate some unforgettable moments for the livestreaming community.”

The event features pickleball pros Felicity Di Laura and Wyatt Stone competing alongside prominent creators, including Asmongold, EsfandTV, and Sodapoppin. The livestream begins at 11 a.m. Central on OTK’s Kick channel at kick.com/otk.

Evan Floersch, CEO of Texas Ranchers, positions the event as a fresh approach to sports content: “This event brings the energy of content culture onto the pickleball court. We’re introducing fans to the Texas Ranchers’ coined ‘RumbleBall,’ a new way of experiencing pickleball as a true viewing product.”

KICK Studios co-produces the event alongside talent management agency Elevate and OTK, highlighting the growing collaboration between traditional sports, creator networks, and emerging livestreaming platforms in developing novel content formats.

The tournament livestream features team reveals, bracket overviews, competition rounds, off-court challenges, player interviews, and concludes with a trophy ceremony and the announcement of the MVP Award.

Image credit: Kick