Canada now has a professional pickleball league! The Canadian National Pickleball League was officially announced on February 1.
A Pro Environment
The league has been designed to provide a pro environment for the country’s best players to expand their skills and also nurture the next generation of Canadian pickleball stars.
The CNPL also intends to establish a supporting and inclusive environment for amateur as well as professional players. They will hold regular events, and demonstrations, plus ambassador and training programs.
Drafting The Canadian Stars Of The Future
A regional draft qualifying event will herald the start of the 2023 season with the top players vying for a place on one of eight pro teams.
Investing in the Action
The CNPL will be an industry leader, offering international sponsorship opportunities, cash prizes, and a career path for participating players. Future owners will take over clubs in the midst of a surge in popularity for the sport, which may well become an Olympic event in the next few games.
Plenty To Look Forward To
The CNPL has planned some exciting, action-packed pickleball events in 2023, all broadcast live.
Cameron Taylor, Co-Founder of CNPL and Founder and Head Teaching Professional of Taylored Pickleball Academy says, “Interest in pickleball has exploded in recent years, and we are thrilled to be part of the action. Canada is bursting with talent that deserves to flourish; the CNPL will provide the opportunity for players to focus on their professional and skill development while simultaneously fostering the growth of the sport in Canada.”
Kim Layton, one of the country’s top international pickleballers out of Calgary, Alberta added “We are excited to be part of a league dedicated to investing in Canada’s talent and potential. The CNPL has recognized the potential in us players to compete on a global stage in this growing sport. We appreciate the investment in our future and the future of the sport in Canada.”
Pickleball In Canada
Pickleball is exploding in popularity across Canada, so much so that venues are often booked up. In Alberta, for example, membership in clubs has swelled. We mention it in another one of our articles here.
There are 24 pickleball clubs across Alberta, including Calgary, Airdrie, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat.
Pickleball Alberta has reported that memberships in the Calgary Zone — the most popular region — have increased this year by about 30% since 2020 from 863 players to 1,120, and that’s despite the pandemic.
According to Pickleball Canada, Alberta has made it into the top three provinces in terms of Pickleball club memberships. British Columbia is first with around 8,500 members, followed by Quebec with about 5,200 and Alberta with over 5,100 players.
For further details about the new Canadian professional league and to find out more about team ownership, sponsorship opportunities, and recruiting players, call Co-Founder Cameron Taylor at (1)-226-668-4484, email him at [email protected], or visit cnpl.ca.
