Today, the Pro Padel League (PPL) – North America’s first professional Padel league – is excited to announce that Josh Garr, President of a.p.i. ALARM Inc., has purchased the league’s Toronto franchise and the first team in Canada.
As President of a.p.i. ALARM – North America’s largest private Security Company offering residential and commercial security systems and surveillance systems – Garr has been responsible for driving a.p.i. ALARM’s growth and expansion in North America for the last ten years. Named a “Top 10 Under 40” for business professionals, Garr was born and raised in Canada and currently resides in Toronto. An avid sportsman, Garr grew up playing racquet sports and is passionate about Padel. Garr is currently involved with various non-profit organizations and charitable causes.
“We are delighted that a proven business leader like Josh Garr will be the Owner of the PPL’s Toronto franchise,” said Marcos del Pilar, Commissioner of the PPL. “We are also very proud that the addition of Toronto to the PPL makes our league truly North American and the only professional league with franchises in Canada, the U.S.A., and Mexico.”
Joining Garr as an advisor to the Toronto franchise is Daniel White, VP of Partnerships and Sales of Mindful Sports, who is a former Senior Executive at MLSE. In addition, Adrian Morales – Padel enthusiast, sportsman, and natural leader – has been named Head Manager of the team.
“I am very excited to bring a Padel franchise to Toronto and the opportunity for our team to be co-ed, this is very important to me,” commented Josh Garr, President of a.p.i. ALARM. “Our company is deeply rooted in Canada and I am so proud to bring the first PPL team to this country.”
In the upcoming weeks, Garr and the Toronto franchise will be announcing the team’s name as well as their coach and other advisors. Prior to the start of the 2023 PPL season, Garr will also be announcing a special Padel event in Toronto to create excitement in the local community for the new team.
“Since I made Canada my home, my only goal was to bring Padel to Toronto,” stated Adrian Morales, Head Manager of Toronto. “I am very excited to be working alongside the franchise’s office to create one of the strongest Padel teams in North America.”
Next month, the PPL will be announcing other key cities that have been awarded franchises. These teams will ignite a Padel phenomenon in the U.S. and position the PPL at the forefront of the Padel explosion that is happening in North America.
“We see Padel really exploding in Canada over the next 12 months and the Toronto franchise will be an important catalyst in the development of the sport across the country,” added del Pilar of the PPL.
The PPL’s inaugural season will kick-off in the Spring of 2023 and conclude with the PPL CUP Championship. During the first season, each team will consist of two male and two female players and will follow the international scoring format.
The PPL’s mission is to create a premier sports league providing a national stage for the sport while generating nationwide awareness and excitement for Padel. Something that has never been done before, the PPL will provide players and fans with a new platform that showcases Padel and grows participation in the sport.
Currently, Padel has over 25 million players worldwide and is growing in popularity in the U.S. with the number of Padel courts set to double in 2023. Over 8 million players are projected to be playing in the U.S. by 2030. The PPL will enable players, coaches, team owners, facility owners, broadcasters, fans, sponsors, and brands to all be involved in, and capitalize on, the sport’s explosive growth.
The league is dedicated to celebrating Padel’s Spanish roots and has made VAMOS the PPL’s official slogan. For more information on the PPL, visit: https://propadelleague.com/. VAMOS!
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About the Pro Padel League
The Pro Padel League (PPL) is North America’s first professional Padel Teams league. The PPL’s mission is to create a premier sports league providing a national stage for the sport while generating nationwide awareness and excitement for Padel as it continues to grow across North America. The PPL’s high octane team competition will kick-off in the Spring of 2023 with six teams or more and conclude with the PPL CUP where the four best teams will compete for the title. During the first season, each team will consist of two male and two female players and will follow the international scoring format. For more information on the PPL, visit: https://propadelleague.com/
