11 Sports and Social Club’s co-owners Cesar Antonio and Abel Cruz saw an opportunity in Orillia and took it…and the Orillia Area CDC were right there with them!
“We are Orillia’s all-season, indoor pickleball location,” explained Antonio. “The U.S. is about ten years ahead of us in terms of pickleball’s future, so it offers us a kind of crystal ball of where the sport is heading. We decided it made sense to open this business and be positioned to take advantage of pickleball’s meteoric rise in popularity for the foreseeable future.”
The managing partners went to the Orillia Area CDC for a loan and ended up with so much more. “We knew that getting a loan from a bank would be difficult, and although we were both putting money into the business, we would need some monies to keep things going in the beginning,” said Antonio.
“The CDC team was so fantastic. They saw our vision and believed in it. They offered a second
set of eyes on our business plan and financials, and gave us referrals to lawyers, accountants,
those professionals we needed to bring things to fruition,” he added.
Antonio also noted that the CDC team could also see the value that 11 Sports and Social Club was going to bring to the community. Having the backing of the local CDC office really helped the duo’s credibility with their landlord, as well.
“Without the Orillia Area CDC loan, we likely wouldn’t have been able to get off the ground,” admitted Antonio. “I am sure our landlord wouldn’t have facilitated our lease without that backing and that cash flow.”
11 Sports and Social Club has been open since March. With its four indoor pickleball courts, and great location in West Ridge close to Rotary Place, interest has been high in its beginner pickleball lessons for all ages, in the wintery weather Orillia has had this March.
11 Sports offers monthly memberships and programs for different levels, drop- ins, court rentals, private and group lessons, birthday parties and team building events, and opportunities for the whole family to play the game together. It will also be offering other sports and activities such as tennis soccer and dodgeball starting in April, and badminton and indoor soccer shortly after.
“This March break, we had a grandma come in with her grandchild, both beginners, to try pickleball out,” smiled Antonio. “It’s a great sport for all ages and fitness levels, and we are both really excited to support that for Orillia families.”
Antonio and Cruz’s vision for their business doesn’t stop with pickleball, either. “I would love to develop an indoor playground in Orillia, as well,” said Antonio. “I have to drive to Barrie to access an amazing indoor playground there with my daughter, and something like that, here, would be wonderful in all of our wintery months.”
The duo also travels to Barrie to play soccer during the winter months, so an indoor artificial turf field for soccer and baseball is also on their wish list. “I do think the population, the interest, and the opportunity is here for all of these things,” said Antonio. “Once we get this going, we will see what comes next!”
Whatever this dynamic pair of entrepreneurs come up with, the Orillia Area CDC will be right there with them, supporting and helping to develop incredible businesses for the community of Orillia.
For more information on 11 Sports and Social Club, visit the website at https://11sportsandsocialclub.ca/.
