The evolution
will be televised.

All OBL franchise teams will be independently owned and managed. With the support of OBL and any partner entities, these franchises will operate as their own brands and organizations, just as in any other professional sports league. All 6 founding franchises will also work in collaboration with OBL leadership to lay the foundation for what will eventually evolve into a professional bocce league in North America.

We are laying a foundation capable of supporting a skyscraper. In 2025 we are just assembling the first couple floors of that skyscraper.

As such, OBL will be highly structured and organized. All league matches at Lorenzino’s Bocce Club will be fully broadcasted, in their own dedicated time slots, on bocce’s biggest platform, the BBN. Teams will be assembled via a draft process, as in any other professional sport. Teams will evolve throughout the season and beyond. Trades will be made. Deals will be signed. Championship franchises will be forged. High profile eyeballs will be grabbed. They’re already watching… Trust us.

Beyond the players and franchise owners, the OBL as an organization will be comprised of a team of people, each acting in their respective role. At the head of the OBL leadership are Danny Catullo, Matt Taylor, and BBN’s Michael Scialdone Sharkey.

The Ohio Bocce League and the Chicago Bocce League are North America’s first fully broadcasted regional semi-pro bocce leagues. With shared leadership and strong collaboration, both leagues are closely coordinating to deliver the highest-quality experience for players, sponsors, and fans. To further strengthen their partnership and expand their audience, all league broadcasts will be featured on the Bocce Broadcast Network.

By uniting two of bocce’s largest markets, this strategic effort enhances visibility, attracts premier sponsorships, and elevates all associated brands—especially the leagues themselves and their franchise teams.

Ohio Bocce League games will be played in a 4 person walk format, meaning each 7 person OBL roster will have 4 starters. The courts at Lorenzino’s are 72 foot beautiful synthetic Colleoni courts and back wall will be dead.

With 6 teams, the regular season will run 10 weeks, followed by one week of playoffs, which all teams will qualify for. Each regular season week, 4 teams will play and 2 teams will get a buy. Each team will play 7 regular season matches, with 3 bye weeks. If a starting player has to miss a week, managers can draw from the rest of their roster for subs.

Each weekly match will feature 1 team competing against another in a 2 game series. Games will be played to 14 points. Teams will receive 1 point in the standings per game win and 1 point for winning the overall point differential. If point differential is even between the 2 teams after both games are over, 2 overtime frames will be played to determine who wins the overall point differential and earns the 1 point for that in the standings. If point differential is still even after 2 overtime frames, another overtime of 2 frames will be played, so on and so forth until a winner emerges.

With 4 teams playing each week, we will have 2 consecutive time slots, which will allow us to have a dedicated full broadcast for each match. Listed below are the regular time slots. Some weeks may differ. A full season schedule for every team will be made available prior to the start of the season.

Regular time slots: Tues 6pm and Tues 8pm

Declare yourself for the draft! Visit the Player Info Page for more info.

Claim one of the 6 founding franchise teams. Visit the Franchise Info Page for more info.

OBL will be looking for enterprising bocce folk (and perhaps even non-bocce folk) to be involved in all aspects of operations. If you have a certain set of skills that you believe could be of benefit to the OBL and are so inclined to be a part of this movement for the future of bocce, let us know! We can be reached at OhioBocceLeague@gmail.com or if you have Danny, Matt, or Mike’s contact info, feel free to reach out directly.

We need you!

Franchise Contract Info Available - 6/20
Franchise Applications Open - 6/27
Franchise Applications Closed - 7/11
Franchise Owners Announced - 7/18
Franchise Foundation Player Signing Deadline - 8/6 at 11:59PM ET
Player Draft Eligibility Deadline - 8/13 at noon ET
Draft - Wed 8/20
Media Days - weeks of 9/8 & 9/15

Regular Season - 9/23-12/2
Thanksgiving week off
10 week regular season includes 3 bye weeks per team.
2 broadcast slots per week - Tues 6pm & 8pm

Playoffs
SAT 12/6 Rd 1 Best of 3
SAT 12/6 Rd 2 Best of 5
SUN 12/7 Rd 3 Best of 7