11 Sports & Social Club is led by Cesar Antonio and Abel Cruz, both Orillia residents, lifelong athletes and passionate sports fans.
Cesar Antonio
Managing Partner, Head of Marketing and Customer Experience
With 20 years of marketing experience in Canada and abroad, Cesar will play a crucial role in driving the success of 11 Sports & Social Club.
Cesar’s experience in business and marketing strategy with Canadian and US businesses in a variety of sectors including financial services, tourism, retail, travel, telecommunications, and professional sports will ensure that the business benefits from marketing and financial best practices.
Abel Cruz
Managing Partner, Head of Operations and Player Experience
As a high-rated Pickleball player, Abel’s extensive involvement in Simcoe County’s Pickleball community has granted him a comprehensive understanding of the sports supply and demand in Orillia, what is needed for players of all levels and age groups, and where the game is headed when it comes to formats and technology.
Abel also owned and operated The Shack Eatery restaurant in Orillia from 2016 to 2020.
The combined experience in business operations and management, brand and event marketing, and community engagement positions us to operate a facility that is not just a playing space but a thriving hub for pickleball enthusiasts and the Orillia community at large.
The problem we’re trying to solve
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in Canada, popular among retirees and active adults, both of which represent a significant portion of Orillia’s population. Yet despite its rising popularity, Orillia lacks a dedicated year-round pickleball facility that meets the growing demand.
The few indoor options, such as Orillia’s Recreation Centre and ODAS Park, devote their gymnasium spaces to pickleball for a few hours per day and is consistently at or over capacity, leaving players with limited court access and playing time, especially during the winter months when the city’s outdoor courts are unusable. The city’s outdoor courts are limited in number, scattered across various parks, lack lights for night play, are only usable from late spring to early fall, and for some players can become less desirable to play at when summer temperatures get too high.
11 Sports & Social Club is the solution to this
An indoor all-season pickleball center dedicated to players of all skill levels and ages to play, compete, learn and continue driving the game forward.
Pickleball is an incredible sporting and social phenomenon. People in retirement are living longer and more active lives. Those in their 20s and 30s are living healthier and looking for fun social experiences. Parents are looking for activities that get their kids off their phones and out of the house. There’s never been a sport that can cater to so many age groups at once like pickleball does.
– Cesar Antonio.
We are excited to bring an all-season centre to Orillia that is badly needed to continue to grow the sport. People from Orillia and surrounding towns now have a place to play that is closer to home. This as a viable business opportunity and community project that will have a positive impact on the physical and mental health of Orillia residents, becoming a community hub for players of all ages, and supporting Orillia’s tourism and economy.
– Abel Cruz
Why 11?
The ’11’ in 11 Sports & Social Club pays homage to pickleball’s scoring system and Orillia’s location off Highway 11.
We wanted a name that felt people in Orillia and surrounding towns could connect with and feel represented by.
