Sky Zone

Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park
Number of locations
 100
Owner Jeff Platt
Website Official site

Sky Zone is a chain of indoor family entertainment centers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Australia that features numerous connected trampolines. Visitors to Sky Zone can bounce from one trampoline to another, jump into pits filled with foam blocks and play a trampoline-based version of dodgeball. Since its launch in 2004 in the Las Vegas Valley, Sky Zone has expanded to 17 states and two Canadian provinces, with plans for locations in additional states and provinces. In 2013, Sky Zone announced a master franchise license with Strike Bowling Bar to build 10 parks in Australia as well as future parks in New Zealand.[1]

Attractions

A typical Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park consists of several trampoline courts, which are arrays of trampolines placed horizontally and surrounded by trampolines placed at angles that serve as the court's walls.[2] The springs for each trampoline are covered by mats to prevent visitors from falling into these holes. Larger courts allow for many visitors to bounce and jump simultaneously, while smaller courts are used for games of dodgeball, where players can bounce around to avoid being hit by other players' throws.[3] Some courts allow visitors to bounce into a pit filled with foam blocks, and others feature basketball goals placed above trampolines, permitting visitors to bounce and slam dunk shots into the goals.[2] Some centers have started exercise classes using the trampoline courts.[4] Additional space in the facility is set aside for birthday parties and similar events, a refreshment stand and lockers for storage of visitors' items.[3] Some locations offer free wi-fi access for parents and chaperones, as well as access to monitors to observe the various courts.[2]

Visitors to some parks are required to sign waivers acknowledging the inherent risks of trampoline use, depending on location.[3] Prior to entry into the court areas, visitors are briefed by employees about safety and other policies.[5] Courts are supervised by employees who make sure that rules are followed and that visitors in a given area of a court are of the same general size and build—for example, to reduce the chance of an adult colliding with a small child.[3] Visitors may take part either barefoot or wearing special socks, depending on the location, which are generally included in the cost of admission.[2]

In Australia, Sky Zone parks are also known to include non-trampolining activities such as rock climbing and laser tag.

History

Sky Zone is the creation of entrepreneur Rick Platt, who originally intended for the trampoline courts to be used as part of a new sport with professional athletes.[5] In 2004, Platt spent USD$2 million to build a 17,000 square foot (1,600 m2) trampoline arena in Las Vegas and to hire athletes for the sport, which would have included rotating hoops and mid-air acrobatics.[4] The sport failed to generate interest, but local skateboarders learned of the facility and wanted to bounce on the court, which prompted Platt to open the facility to the general public at the cost of $8 per person.[5] Within six months, the facility had hosted 10,000 visitors,[5] and total revenue for the first year was $412,000.[4]

In 2006, Platt's son Jeff, who was at college near St. Louis, Missouri, opened a similar park there, which became profitable within six weeks of opening.[5] Jeff Platt is currently the CEO of the company that operates the company-owned parks and arranges franchises for other locations around the United States and Canada.[5] In 2011, revenues from the facilities reached $16 million.[4] Sky Zone will appear on Undercover Boss on March 14 on CBS.[6]

Reception

An average Sky Zone park hosts 1,000 guests per day.[2] Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online in order to guarantee admittance at a specific time.[3] Along with birthday parties, Sky Zone parks have hosted after-prom parties and leagues for its trampoline dodgeball games.[3]

Sky Zone ranked #453 on the Entrepreneur 2013 Franchise 500 list.[7] In 2015, Sky Zone becomes the company having 100 locations spread over 4 countries.[8]

The company relies heavily on word-of-mouth and social media to promote the parks.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Sky Zone Becomes First US Trampoline Park to go Global"
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Meghan Kotowski (January 5, 2012). "Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park opens in Suwanee". GwinnettDailyPost.com. Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Michael Morain (April 2, 2012). "Sky Zone's the Limit at trampoline park". DesMoinesRegister.com. Gannett Newspapers. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Drew Guarini (April 12, 2012). "For Sky Zone Trampoline Parks, The Sky's The Limit". HuffingtonPost.com. AOL Money & Finance. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Karen E. Klein (March 21, 2012). "Sky Zone Failed as a Sport, Won With Trampoline Parks". bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, L.P. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park". Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "Entrepreneur 2013 Franchise 500 list"
  8. ↑ Jenny Walt (July 7, 2015). "Sky Zone Happy 100 Locations Celebration". Retrieved July 11, 2015.

External links

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