Sky Zone

Sky Zone Franchise Group

Type	Private company
Industry	Indoor Trampoline Park and Active Entertainment
Founded	2004; 18 years ago (2004)
Headquarters	Los Angeles
Number of locations	100 (as of 2015)
Key people	Jeff Platt (President) Julie Petritsch (CFO) Josh Cole (CMO) Glenn Lord (COO)
Owner	Palladium Equity Partners
Website	www.skyzone.com

Sky Zone is a chain of indoor trampoline parks in the United States, Canada, Australia, Colombia, Guam, Guatemala, India, Kuwait, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates that features numerous connected trampolines and other physical activities.^{[citation needed]}

History[]

Sky Zone was created in 2004 by entreprenuer Rick Platt in the Las Vegas Valley. Platt originally intended for the trampoline courts to be used as part of a new sport with professional athletes.^[1] Platt spent US$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.^[2] 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.^[1] Within six months, the facility had hosted 10,000 visitors,^[1] and total revenue for the first year was $412,000.^[2]

In 2006, Platt's son Jeff, who was a student at Washington University in St. Louis, opened a similar park in Missouri, which became profitable within six weeks of opening.^[1] 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.^[1] In 2011, revenues from the facilities reached $16 million.^[2]

In 2011, Sky Zone organized Ultimate Dodgeball, an extreme dodgeball competition played inside Sky Zone trampoline parks. The competition ran from that year to 2018, with championships featured on ESPN.^[3] In 2019, Sky Zone suspended Ultimate Dodgeball due to funding issues.^[4]

Sky Zone was one of the founding members of the International Association of Trampoline Parks which was formed in 2012.^[5]

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.^[6] That year, Sky Zone ranked #453 on the Entrepreneur 2013 Franchise 500 list.^[7]

In 2015, Sky Zone had 100 locations spread over 4 countries.^{[citation needed]}

In February 2018, CircusTrix, backed by Palladium Equity Partners, announced that it had acquired Sky Zone.^[8][9]

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.^[10] 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 baseball and basketball, where players can bounce around to avoid being hit by other players' throws. 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.^[10] Some centers have started exercise classes using the trampoline courts.^[2] Additional space in the facility is set aside for birthday parties and similar events, a refreshment stand.^[11]

Sky Zone parks are also known to include non-trampolining activities such as rock climbing, ninja warrior courses, foam pits and laser tag.^{[citation needed]}

Injuries and lawsuits[]

Sky Zone has been the subject of individual and class-action lawsuits due to injuries that have occurred in its trampoline parks.^[12] According to research from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the likelihood of sustaining a trampoline injury was 32% greater at a trampoline park than at home.^[13] Despite being a target of successful lawsuits, Sky Zone forces many who are injured into forced arbitration.^[12]

In 2017, a two-year-old suffered a broken bone at a "toddler time" jump activity offered by a Florida Sky Zone after an impact with a mat, despite a 2015 statement by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons that children under six should not be allowed to use trampolines, due to safety concerns.^[14]

On September 12, 2021, 700 to 1000 people, largely children, were trapped inside a Sky Zone park in Orland Park, Illinois during a largescale fight that included 200 children.^[15] The Sky Zone was shut down for safety violations, and reopened after going to court for an emergency order to stay in business.^[16]

A news investigation revealed a pattern of recurring injuries at Sky Zone parks, including broken bones. These injuries, the investigation found, were caused by people getting their feet caught in the trampolines' metal frame or by being fallen on by others.^[17] A lawsuit connected to this investigation alleges dangerous design flaws, and points to internal Sky Zone worker manuals to specifically "BE AWARE OF THE PADS," a warning not given to customers.^[17]

Adults have also been part of these patterns of injuries. Joba Chamberlain, former New York Yankees pitcher, suffered from extreme blood loss after breaking his ankle at a Sky Zone park in 2012.^[18]

Sky Zone Australia[]

Sky Zone Australia opened its first location in Alexandria, Sydney in May 2014 covers 3000m² with 180 connected trampolines. Soon after in July 2014, Sky Zone Macgregor opens up a 3287m² making it the largest Sky Zone in Australia followed by Sky Zone Belconnen in Canberra which opened in December 2014 and houses 117 connected trampolines over 1800m². In 2016, Sky Zone opened another park in Sydney at Westfield Miranda. The all-ages park offers multiple activities - jumping, climbing and laser tag and runs specialized trampoline fitness sessions known as Skyfit.

In 2016, it was reported that the owner of Sky Zone Australia, Funlab, was putting up the Australian operation for sale. Funlab was also selling its Strike Bowling business.^[19]

In October 2021, it was announced that Sky Zone Sydney and Brisbane would be permanently closing.^[20]

Sky Zone India[]

Sky Zone Hyderabad[]

Sky Zone Hyderabad,^[21] is the first ever Trampoline park in India^[22] opened in August 2017 at Gandipet^[23] and is spread across 30,000 sq ft. Recently another branch was opened in

Sarath City Capital Mall, Kondapur, Hyderabad, that is spread across 9600 Sq ft. It is known as Hyderabad's largest trampoline park.^[24]

Sky Zone Bangalore[]

Sky Zone expanded to Bangaluru,^[25] Karnataka and opened its new branch after its first outing in Hyderabad, with area of 9300 Sq.ft in November 2017, located at Forum^[26] Shantiniketan, Whitefield Main Road, Hoodi, Thigalarapalya.Krishnarajapur, Bangalore.^[27]

References[]

External links[]

• Official website