It’s a win for the new competitive socializing brand, Ballerz, who has officially launched its first venue.
Ballerz will showcase “an immersive footballing experience to players and creating an industry first, developed by former professional footballers and a team of industry specialists.”
Ballerz delivers a mix of training, gaming and entertainment, with specially developed pro pitch technology and immersive effects.
Names from the world of football, music and entertainment have been among the first to test out the tech at the opening of the first venue, located at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent.
Ballerz is being launched by former pro footballers Rio Ferdinand, Bobby Zamora, Roberto Carlos and Mark Noble, alongside a team of sport and hospitality industry specialists.
Rio Ferdinand said: “We’ve developed a tech-loaded pitch and immersive atmosphere for those who love to play and watch the beautiful game. There’re loads of unique touches that are creating a space to socialize, compete and have fun.”
Ballerz is a multimillion-pound football exhibition venue covering a 30,000 sq ft football dome. It is home to a tech-loaded 5G pitch, developed specially for Ballerz. It has been designed so players of all skill levels can experience the beautiful game like never before – with stadium-like immersive tech. It features a tunnel and walkout experience, FX lighting, real-time crowd noises and goal highlights shown on-site and easily sharable to social media.
As well as the state-of-the-art 6-a-side stadium pitch, Ballerz has a SkillZone, which challenges players to seven football fitness games that test technical, physical and mental skill. Performance is tracked by Ballerz QR wristbands – so players can challenge their own personal bests and see if they beat the scores of the Ballerz football legends.
Parker Howard, the Director of Experience and Technology at Ballerz, said: “Our goal was to pioneer a unique concept by introducing a football entertainment venue housed within our air dome – featuring a mini football stadium loaded with cutting-edge tech and a digitally enhanced competitive social SkillZone.
“We were particularly focused on ensuring that people of all ages and skill levels could experience that very same feeling of their idols playing under the lights in a Champions League match. This required crafting an immersive experience around playing football, complete with pro dressing rooms, LED tunnel and walk-outs onto our 5G pitch, real-time crowd ambiance and reactions, dynamic stadium lighting, and instant match highlights shareable to socials at the final whistle.
“Making memories and capturing them is a central ethos within the Ballerz DNA.”
To officially launch the brand, a Battle of the Ballerz tournament was held on 16 May ahead of Ballerz opening to the public. Some of the Ballerz football founders took to the pitch with former England player Joe Cole, professional freestyler Harriet Pavlou and Wolves manager Gary O’Neil. Other players included members of the Charlton Athletic squad, former City centre back Joleon Lescott, DJ Joel Corry, DJ Mark Knight, and many others from the entertainment and sports industry.
Ballerz is an all-day competitive socializing venue and provides training, Ballerz leagues, sessions in the SkillZone, events, and evening entertainment. The venue also features a gaming lounge and food and entertainment spaces.
Images: Ballerz
