Own your own bocce franchise.

One day in the future, bocce will be played professionally in North America. The Chicago Bocce League is one of the foundational steps toward that ultimate goal. Owning a founding franchise in the CBL is an opportunity to have an ownership stake in the future of bocce. Invest in, create, and develop your own bocce brand in a complementary ecosystem of like-minded, committed brands and organizations. Put yourself in a position to benefit from the inevitable opportunities that will come with owning a stake in bocce’s biggest leap forward.

Also, you get to manage and operate a sports franchise! Think drafting players, managing lineups, analysing matchups, developing players and coaches, controlling the trading block, etc… All the fun and analytical stuff that comes with being a sports franchise owner, applied to our beloved bocce!

$6k will be the cost of owning a founding franchise. More details will be made available, along with full franchise contract details on 6/2. Founding franchises applications will open 6/16 and close on a date TBD. Selected franchise owners will be announced on a date TBD.

Prospective franchise owners will be asked to fill out and submit an application via this website.

As part of the application, prospective owners will be asked to outline strategic vision, leadership approach, and business capabilities.

Applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of OBL leadership and several independent parties.

You do not. Franchises can be owned and managed remotely. Player bios will be made available in advance of the draft to help with players you may be less familiar with.

In this inaugural season, all teams will be drafted from scratch. Eligible players will have until a date TBD to declare themselves for the draft, which will be held on a date TBD. Each team will draft 6 players. The draft will be a banquet for players and owners, broadcasted live from a venue TBA.

Further info on draft order, selection process, trades, add/drop, and mid-season aquisitions will be directly communicated to and coordinated with franchise owners.

Sure! Franchises are permitted to make a deal with up to one player before a date TBD, ahead of the draft. This player will be considered your franchise foundation and will essentially act as your team’s first round draft pick. Teams that sign a franchise foundation player will then skip their turn in the first round of the draft.

Any individual assuming a primary Player-Owner role will be regarded as the third round draft pick for that respective franchise.

Player-Owners are prohibited from trading themselves or playing for another franchise.

Each franchise may enter the draft with a maximum of two Player-Owners.

A franchise can effectively establish two Player-Owners prior to the draft by using their “Franchise Foundation” pick (see “What if I have a player…” above) for the first Player-Owner and sacrificing their third round draft pick for the second Player-Owner.

If a third Player-Owner is introduced pre-draft, they would be eligible for draft selection by another franchise. That is why only two Player-Owners per team are permitted pre-draft.

Franchises wishing to incorporate more than two Player-Owners must ensure all individuals are officially rostered on the respective franchise before formal recognition.

Of course we cannot promise this, like Bernie Madoff did, but yes we envision quite a fantastic increase in value and return on these initial franchise investements.

Franchise contracts, including info on league royalties will be made available on June 2nd. Decisions on future royalties, potential revenue sharing, and other operational financial logistics will be made in collaboration with franchise owners. We want happy franchise owners.

Franchises will not be required to directly pay their players for at least the inaugural season. There will be monetary prizes disbursed for winning franchises at the end of the season.

As the league evolves beyond this inaugural season, decisions on when to institute a minimum player salary, among other things, will be made in collaboration with franchise owners, players, and CBL leadership.

Yes. CBL leadership will work closely with players and franchise owners to develop the best product for all involved, especially those with ownership stake.

Franchise Contract Info Available - 6/2
Franchise Applications Open - 6/16
Franchise Applications Closed - TBD
Franchise Owners Announced - TBD
Franchise Foundation Player Signing Deadline - TBD
Player Draft Eligibility Deadline - TBD
Draft - TBD
Media Days - TBD

Regular Season TBD

Playoff Week TBD
Tues : 1st Rd Best of 3 (1 match)
Wed : 1st Rd Best of 3 (1 match)
Thurs : Quarters Best of 5 (1 match)
Fri : Quarters Best of 5 (1 match)
Sat : Semis Best of 5 (2 matches)
Sun : Finals Best of 7 (1 match)