Set to redefine how people connect through sports, Ballers is a new hospitality-driven social sports venue where people can play, socialize, and build community on and off the court. Opening in July, the Philadelphia flagship with capitalize on the ever-growing popularity of racquet sports with a $30 million launch nationwide, including a location in Boston in August and 50-plus locations in the next seven to 10 years in key markets, such as Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Toronto, and more.
Recent research by RacquetX, the leading research group for the racquet sports industry, revealed the emergence of a “cross-court consumer,” with 43 percent of responders playing more than one racquet sport in the last year or intending to diversify their play. The research also noted tremendous growth potential in public courts and clubs opening up access for sports across the category—pickleball, padel, and tennis.
Ballers is founded by Equinox and Equinox Hotels alum David Gutstadt and Amanda Potter and backed by a host of celebrity and pro-athlete investors, including tennis icons Andre Agassi, Kim Clijsters, and Sloane Stephens; the third-ranked singles pickleball player, Connor Garrett; MLS star and padel player Maarten Paes; and Philadelphia 76ers owner David Blitzer.
“Having played tennis in college, racquet sports have always been a passion of mine,” says Gutstadt, founder and CEO of Ballers. “So, when we saw the opportunity to marry the powerful trend and innovations in urban social sports including pickleball, padel, and golf with our unique expertise in design and community-building, we went all in on Ballers. The incredible response to our Philadelphia pop-up last year showed us that people are craving this connection through sports, and we’re excited to show that when paired with unparalleled hospitality, athletics can go beyond just leagues, lessons, or court time.”
Each Ballers venue will feature:
- World-class sports facilities, including championship pickleball courts, Padel courts, squash courts, Golfzon simulators, and turf soccer fields. Select clubs will also come with fully equipped gyms and recovery amenities.
- Luxury equipment from sports brands like Babolat and Joola.
- Public access to book courts, with supplementary membership tiers ranging from $99 to $499 per month that provides access to perks such as extended booking windows and exclusive events, with select clubs offering luxury amenities like dedicated fitness and wellness facilities such as saunas, cold plunges, and compression therapy.
- Elevated dining venues by chef Mitch Prensky that serve as social and event spaces for community activations and workshops with athletes and tastemakers.
Venues will be set in unique locations that capture their specific city’s historic fabric, transforming them into high-design wellness spaces that honor the former life of the building with an industrial urban-chic aesthetic.
“Ballers is more than a sports facility—we’re merging sport and culture, creating a social hub for fashion, art, and community,” says Potter, founder and chief creative officer at Ballers. “We believe that by tapping local tastemakers in every Ballers city and infusing each space with our own personal touches, we can craft experiences that feel truly one of a kind.”
