Naples Professional Pickleball Team : Hey Guys ! “We’re fully geared up for another great year.”
Bob Strommen issued that declaration recently about the National Pickleball League, which opens its second season in May. As the owner of Naples JBB United, he’s also personally “geared up” about the prospects for his squad, which was part of the NPL’s 2023 debut.
The league is for senior professionals, players from around the world who are 50 and above, an approach Strommen compares to that of the PGA’s Tour Champions circuit.
Aside from JBB United, in 2023 the league had franchises in Austin, Denver, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City and Boca Raton. Reflecting the sport’s exploding popularity, the league has doubled in size for 2024, adding teams in Coachella Valley, Seattle, Princeton (NJ), Kansas City, Houston and Columbus.
Matches are played monthly. The season begins May 17 in Chicago and moves on to Columbus, Cincinnati, Kansas City and Houston. The league’s Championship Weekend is scheduled for Oct. 17 through Oct. 20, with the location yet to be determined. There, teams will compete for $150,000 in prize money, up from $100,000 last year.
Naples JBB United finished fourth during the regular season last year and fifth in the National Pickleball League’s championship tournament.
Unlike Major League Pickleball, a professional circuit for younger players, the NPL limits itself to doubles matches: men’s, women’s and mixed.
“As you get older, the singles game is a little tougher,” explained Strommen. “Because we’re so committed to the legacy of the game and the lifestyle aspect, where you can be almost any age and be competitive, we require every team to have one male and one female over the age of 60. We had some people trying out that were in their 70s who are just amazing athletes because they’ve stayed so active in their life.”
To prevent foul weather from affecting play or attendance, matches are only held in covered facilities. For the debut season, matches were held on the courts of a chain of mid-South indoor-outdoor entertainment complexes : Chicken-N-Pickle. This year, they’ll be held on courts located in NPL franchise cities.
Eventually, each owner will have their own home courts, according to Strommen, who has based the JBB United franchise at the Naples Pickleball Center, located at East Naples Community Park.
The NPC is home to the annual Minto US Open Pickleball Championships, which attracts an international field of top-ranked professional and amateur players to the park’s 64 courts. The Minto US Open Pickleball Championship runs from April 13-20.
Strommen has been one of the NPC’s managing partners since 2020. With 66 courts at East Naples and 14 at nearby Veterans Community Park, the NPC describes itself as being the world’s largest dedicated pickleball complex in one location and the “Pickleball Capital of the World,” a tagline Strommen has trademarked.
A dedicated recreational pickleball player, the Collier County resident owns two St. Paul, Minnesota-based companies: Strommen and Associates, a financial services firm, and CheckPoints Consulting. He’s also an author and speaker, as well as a former high school soccer coach.
The “JBB” portion of his franchise’s name honors the legacies of Joel Pritchard, Barney McCallum and Bill Bell, who created pickleball in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington.
Strommen intends to build or establish a covered pickleball facility for the franchise within Collier County or elsewhere in Southwest Florida.
“That’s in part because I think there’s a demand for it, but I also think it’s part of my commitment to the league that if we’re going to have a team in the Southwest Florida/Collier County area, that there will be a covered facility.
Even though we would only be using it for a very small percentage of the time, when you consider a 12-month cycle, it will just be just another asset of Collier County and continue to be known as the ‘Pickleball Capital of the World.’
This year’s draft, scheduled for April in Naples, marks a notable shift in strategy for Strommen and his fellow owners. Unlike last year, where geographical proximity wasn’t a significant factor due to teams not playing in their home markets, this time around, they’re placing a strong emphasis on local connections when drafting rosters for the upcoming season.
“In the previous season, a player’s location wasn’t a priority since there was no direct link between players or teams and their hometowns,” Strommen explained.
“However, we’ve recognized the importance of changing that approach this year. Establishing local ties is crucial for the team and the host city.
It enables players to engage with the local community, participate in youth programs, conduct clinics, and cultivate interest in pickleball among young enthusiasts.
Here’s a table summarizing the information from the article about the National Pickleball League (NPL) and the Naples JBB United team :
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| League Name | National Pickleball League (NPL) |
| Season | Second season begins in May 2024 |
| Age Group | Senior professionals, players aged 50 and above |
| Teams (2023) | Naples JBB United, Austin, Denver, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, Boca Raton |
| Expansion Teams (2024) | Coachella Valley, Seattle, Princeton (NJ), Kansas City, Houston, Columbus |
| Match Frequency | Monthly |
| Season Start | May 17, 2024 in Chicago, followed by matches in Columbus, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Houston |
| Championship Weekend | Oct. 17 – Oct. 20, 2024 (Location TBD) |
| Prize Money | $150,000 for championship tournament (increased from $100,000) |
| Match Format | Doubles matches only; men’s, women’s, and mixed |
| Team Composition | Each team requires one male and one female over the age of 60 |
| Venue | Matches held in covered facilities |
| Home Courts | Eventually, each team owner will have their own home courts |
| Naples JBB United Venue | Naples Pickleball Center, located at East Naples Community Park |
| Owner | Bob Strommen |
| Franchise Name Origin | “JBB” honors Joel Pritchard, Barney McCallum, and Bill Bell, creators of pickleball in 1965 |
| Owner’s Background | Owner of Strommen and Associates (financial services firm) and CheckPoints Consulting |
| Owner’s Involvement | Managing partner of Naples Pickleball Center since 2020 |
| League’s Tagline | “Pickleball Capital of the World” (trademarked by Strommen) |
| Draft Strategy | Emphasis on local connections; drafted rosters based on geographical proximity |
| Team Promotion | Engage with local communities, youth programs, clinics, and cultivating interest in pickleball |
| Website | Naples JBB United, National Pickleball League, Naples Pickleball Center |
I’ve witnessed a similar phenomenon in professional soccer, where teams had to build a dedicated fan base within their communities. I anticipate this trend to emerge not only in Naples but also in all our league locations across the country.”
For further details about the Naples JBB United professional pickleball team, please visit nplpickleball.com/naples-jbb-united and facebook.com/jbbunited.
To learn more about the National Pickleball League, visit nplpickleball.com. For information regarding the Naples Pickleball Center, please visit naplespickleballcenter.info.
Also Read : Basic Rules Of Pickleball Sport
