North America’s first professional padel league, the Pro Padel League, took another step closer this week with the announcement of the player draft for its first season starting in May.
Five team franchises have already been revealed – in Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami, Cancun and Toronto – with further participating cities to come.
It is hoped the Pro Padel League (PPL) will boost the profile of padel in North America, particularly in the States where pickleball is the dominant force in the market.
The next stage in the PPL’s development is the player draft, with players invited to register before the 28 February closing date. The draft itself takes place on 15 March.
Eligible players will be selected to play for one of the new teams, with each team made up of two men and two women. All players will receive payment and travel and accommodation expenses.
The regular season, held at a neutral venue in Florida, begins in May with the top four teams going through to play-offs in June to compete for the PPL Cup.
Matches will include men’s, women’s, and mixed and will follow the international scoring format.
“I am so proud that this day has finally arrived. It has always been my dream to grow the sport in North America and support male and female padel players,” said Marcos del Pilar, Commissioner of the PPL. “It’s a very exciting time for the PPL and our sport.
“I hope all competitive padel players will apply to be a part of our draft to help elevate the calibre of the game in North America.”
The PPL’s mission is to create a premier sports league to generate nationwide awareness and excitement for padel and grow participation.
The number of padel players is set to double in the US in 2023, with a projected eight million players by 2030. It’s hoped the PPL will enable players, coaches, team owners, facility owners, broadcasters, fans, sponsors, and brands to capitalise on the sport’s explosive growth.
