Own your franchise.
Shape the future.

One day in the future, bocce will be played professionally in North America. The Ohio Bocce League is one of the foundational steps toward that ultimate goal. Owning a founding franchise in the OBL 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 6/20. Founding franchise applications will open 6/27 and close 7/11. Selected franchise owners will be announced 7/18.

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 noon ET on 8/13/25 to declare themselves for the draft, which will be held on 8/20/25. Each team will draft 7 players.

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 8/7/25, ahead of the 8/20/25 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 seventh 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 seventh 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 20th. 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. OBL 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 - 6/20
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