Pro Aerial League Brings Team Competition To Drone Racing
From a mainstream standpoint, Scott Whiteker knows that the Drone Racing League (DRL) put the sport on the map. Centered around individual racing, the DRL’s mission is to provide engaging drone racing content and, by and large, it has succeeded.
Still, Whiteker, CEO of the new Pro Aerial League (PAL), sees one hole in DRL’s approach: team racing.
“With nobody doing anything that’s team based — it’s often individual — I think that’s really where our unique spot in the sport is,” he said
Dubbed the first professional team-based drone racing league in the U.S., and possibly the world, the PAL offers three racing formats: individual racing like you would see in the DRL, a team-focused competition with six pilots per team and a team relay.
For the inaugural season, events will be held at the XFINITY Arena in Everett, Wash. “With some of the drone events in 2016, weather really impacted a lot of them,” Whiteker explained. “For us, looking at something that’s going to be indoors where we minimize the weather issues, we’re putting drone racing in an area where spectators can see the entire race and not just a certain part of the course and really having those other pieces that people can get engaged with.”
The @XfinityArena is calling your name. Beckoning you to join us August 19th. To watch and participate in Drone Racing, and More! pic.twitter.com/uOrkgOpWMW
— Pro Aerial League (@ProAerialLeague) July 19, 2017
Making it easier for spectators will be live, first-person (or drone) video feeds on the jumbotron. Depending on the ranks at the time, the feeds may be set up to show the leading pilot.
Ken Allison, the league’s Commissioner of Racing, is in charge of organizing the formats, how teams will be structured and putting on tryouts. “I think that drone racing is here to stay,” Allison explained. “It’s obviously not going anywhere and making it a team-contribution event just really brings people together and it adds that camaraderie that’s missing out on the field.”
PAL events will be uber-focused on the spectators as a $25 ticket will get you more than a couple drone races. “Spectators will not only get the ability to watch the drone racing from a reserved seat, but we’ll also have a lot of engaging ancillary activities like VR, laser tag and other new experiences,” Whiteker said.
In an effort to grow the sport, a “Fly a Drone” activity will be offered to kids and new fliers. “The thing I’m most excited about — and this is coming from a pilot’s perspective — is the fact that we’re really trying to pull in spectators, we’re trying to build a fan base.”
There will also be involvement with local drone organizations at the event. The clubs aren’t charged to be involved and will be there to educate spectators on where to get a drone and how to fly it.
League season kicks off Aug. 19 and runs through late February so as to engage local markets and schools while they’re in session.
Whiteker said that the goal is to expand PAL beyond the Seattle-area following its inaugural season.
