Pepperdine University and Playfly Sports Announce Ticket Sales Partnership Expansion
8/24/2026 8:00:00 AM | General
MALIBU, Calif. — Pepperdine University Athletics and Playfly Sports, the sports industry's leading revenue maximization company, today announced an expansion of their strategic partnership, with Playfly selected to lead outbound athletic ticket sales for The Mountain at Mullin Park, Pepperdine's new on-campus arena scheduled to open December 2026.Â
Playfly will provide a dedicated staff member in the Head of New Arena Sales position focused on driving ticket sales and cultivating new fan relationships ahead of the arena's opening. The partnership will be overseen by Alan Aldwell, Regional Vice President of Playfly Sports.Â
The agreement marks the third area of collaboration between Pepperdine Athletics and Playfly over the past two years. Playfly previously partnered with Pepperdine to deliver ticket sales training and led a comprehensive Yield Study and Workshop to formulate The Mountain at Mullin Park's pricing and packaging strategy. Â
"The Mountain at Mullin Park represents the most significant commercial opportunity in the history of Pepperdine Athletics, and we are honored to help bring this transformative vision to life. Tanner Gardner and Erin Bean have developed an ambitious strategy that will shape the future of Waves Athletics for decades to come," said Chad Cardinal, Senior Vice President, Head of Playfly Ticketing & Hospitality Properties. "This project is more than a new arena: it represents a generational investment in the student-athlete experience, the Pepperdine community, and the future of the University. We are excited to leverage the full strength of Playfly to help maximize the potential of this landmark opportunity."Â
"The Mountain at Mullin Park is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Pepperdine Athletics, and maximizing its potential requires us to think differently about how we connect with our fans and community." said Tanner Gardner, Director of Athletics at Pepperdine University. "Playfly has been an outstanding strategic partner as we have built our ticketing strategy, and expanding that partnership to lead our outbound sales efforts is an important next step. We are excited to have their expertise and dedicated team helping us introduce The Mountain to new fans, deepen relationships with our existing supporters and build the kind of atmosphere this incredible venue deserves. The Mountain will change the way our community experiences Pepperdine Athletics, and we are excited to have Playfly alongside us as we bring that vision to life."
The Mountain at Mullin Park is a transformational $150 million investment in the future of Pepperdine Athletics and the University. The 161,000-square-foot venue will feature seating for over 3,600 fans and provide a modern home for Waves basketball and volleyball while enhancing the game-day experience for student-athletes, alumni, students, and the broader Pepperdine community. Fans who purchase tickets to The Mountain help bring this transformational vision to life. To learn more about tickets at The Mountain at Mullin Park and be part of this exciting new chapter, please fill out this form.
ABOUTÂ PEPPERDINE ATHLETICS
Pepperdine University boasts one of the most successful athletic programs in the country for a school of its size. The Waves have claimed 10 NCAA Division I team championships and 26 team or individual national championships in their history. Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. Pepperdine is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.
ABOUT PLAYFLY SPORTS
Playfly Sports, the sports industry's leading revenue maximization company drives growth for its partners across the sports ecosystem – including 2,000+ brands, 100+ professional teams, 65+ college athletic departments, all U.S. local sports networks and associated streaming platforms, and other marquee properties. Its fan engagement platform allows its partners to reach and engage over 85% of all U.S sports fans. Playfly builds and implements custom strategies across media, sponsorship, premium experiences, ticketing and fan engagement offerings through proprietary data, innovative technology and compelling storytelling. Playfly operates an expansive portfolio of services with a data-driven and fan-focused approach to maximize revenue yield in key growth areas, such as media, sponsorship, ticketing, premium experiences and fan engagement offerings. Founded in September of 2020, Playfly Sports is now home to approximately 1,000 team members located across 43 U.S. states and internationally dedicated to maximizing the impact of highly passionate local sports fans. The company has been named Best Place to Work in Sports by Sports Business Journal, Front Office Sports, and Newsweek. To learn more, follow Playfly Sports on social media platforms or visit www.Playfly.com
