WICKER PARK — A bocce ball club that started in Wicker Park and has expanded to nearly 1,000 players wants to take the team national, and is asking for financial help to do just that.
Launched on Tuesday, the "American Bocce Company (the website)" project seeks $15,000 to design and build a league management system and online community "that taps anybody into the phenomenon that is social bocce ball," according to the Kickstarter campaign.
Early Friday, the campaign, which has a July 16 deadline, raised $2,571 or close to one-fifth toward its goal with support from 26 backers.
American Bocce/Kickstarter
Similar to curling but played on a lawn, the Wicker Park Bocce ball club started in a city-owned lot at 1944 W. Crystal St. in July 2013.
In addition to the Wicker Park lot, currently there is a West Loop bocce league at Kaiser Taiger, 1415 W. Randolph St., and another at Parson's Chicken & Fish, 2952 W. Armitage Ave. in Logan Square.
A bocce leagie at Kaiser Tiger in West Loop. [Chris Latchford, Kaiser Tiger]
Wicker Park residents Alex Gara, along with Alicia Henry and Ben Tudor, are the three founding partners of the league, which attracts 60 to 70 players each week.
"We think there is some kind of boom in the city in bocce ball and would like to think we are somewhat responsible for it; it is super social and creates a community feeling that people are lacking," Gara said,
Though the original name was Wicker Park Bocce Club, the business is no longer just in Wicker Park, nor is it a club, Gara pointed out, explaining the shift to a new name of American Bocce Company.
Gara said the website, once complete, will have schedule generators, registrations, automated standings and statistics, player profiles, forums, and more. Additionally, the site would serve as an online home base for coordinating satellite leagues all over the country and regional and national competitions.
Registration has started for summer leagues, beginning in July.
