National Pro Grid League
 |
|
| Formerly | National Pro Fitness League (2014) |
|---|---|
| Sport |
|
| Inaugural season | 2014 |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Phoenix Rise (1st title) |
| Most titles | DC Brawlers (2 titles) |
| TV partner(s) | NBCSN |
| Official website | NPGL.com |
The National Pro Grid League (NPGL) is a professional athletic organization consisting of mixed-gender teams. The teams compete in timed events in the competition space referred to as "the grid". The NPGL refers to the sport itself as GRID and describes it as "strategic team athletics racing".
For each Grid "Match", two opposing teams compete in eleven races progressing across four quadrants of the Grid. Each of the eleven races has a specific format that remains consistent, although the individual athletic tasks performed during each race vary from match to match. The athletic tasks performed incorporate weightlifting, gymnastics and bodyweight maneuvers denominated as "Elements" of each race.
The sport was founded and developed by Tony Budding, a former employee of CrossFit Inc., who had had significant involvement in the CrossFit Games as media director. The NPGL was originally to be named the National Pro Fitness League. However, the acronym NPFL was deemed to be too similar to more popular National Football League (NFL), and the name was changed to the National Pro GRID League. Because of its similarities to CrossFit, Budding was able to secure early investors, a television contract with the NBC Sports Group, and an opening night in Madison Square Garden. However, the NPGL halted operations midway through its inaugural season due to potential investors backing out, leading to cancellations of matches and causing for the season to finish its finals in a format very different than had been originally planned. Towards the end of the season, Budding was quietly let go as the CEO of the NPGL and replaced by Jim Kean and Budding is no longer involved with the NPGL.
For the NPGL's second season, in 2015, matches were held at only certain locations where they would often host multiple matches in a single day. The opening weekend took place on June 13–14 during the FitExpo at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, California, and all eight teams competed. The second matches were held regionally; all four Eastern Conference teams played in Landover, Maryland, one match at Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California, and one match at BankUnited Center in Miami, Florida. The final matches of the season was held on August 22–23 during the FitExpo at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, where all eight teams once again competed. The entire postseason took place from September 16–20, once again held at the Anaheim Convention Center.
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