SCOTTSDALE, AZ – (September 4, 2024) – Home Run Dugout, the only entertainment concept featuring indoor soft-toss baseball, is expanding its growing footprint to include new locations in San Antonio and Scottsdale, the company’s first location outside of Texas. The expansion comes on the heels of a $22.5M Series A led by Lagniappe Capital Partners with follow-on investment from BCS Capital and continued support from existing Home Run Dugout investors. The funds have been primarily allocated to expand the Houston location, hire key executives, and pursue licensing and new locations.
Founded in 2015 by childhood friends, co-founders Nick Hermandorfer and Tyler Bambrick, Home Run Dugout's first full-scale location opened in Katy, TX, just outside of Houston in March 2023, where it introduced a brand-new way to play baseball with friends with the patented Batting Bay™. Since opening, Home Run Dugout – Katy has delivered over 7.4 million pitches to more than 300,000 guests of all backgrounds and skill levels, resulting in over 1.1 million home runs.
It’s not a batting cage—it’s better! Now, Home Run Dugout is bringing America’s pastime to the masses with its patented Batting Bays, which feature ground-up pitching machines and cageless batting in state-of-the-art entertainment venues. Batting Bays feature massive projection screens and immersive augmented reality gameplay, which allows players to compete for bragging rights in all of their favorite stadiums.
“Hitting a baseball is one of the hardest, most intimidating things in sports. Home Run Dugout gives everyone the chance to hit a home run by gamifying the batting experience and delivering a soft toss pitch that removes all barriers, even the cage and helmet,” said Brian McGuire, lead investor and founder of Lagniappe Capital Partners. “Customers love our offering, and the Batting Bays continue to outperform, generating nearly three times the revenue of an average Topgolf bay. The entire Home Run Dugout team embodies the resourcefulness and teamwork to create a winning concept, and we're thrilled to continue our partnership as we grow throughout the US.”
The new Scottsdale and San Antonio venues will span over 65,000 square feet, featuring 34 Batting Bays, HRD’s signature Biergarten Baseball™ mini-field, a full-service restaurant, and three bars. The Scottsdale location will be located at the intersection of Highway 101 and Talking Stick Way, the area’s premier destination for immersive sports entertainment. The San Antonio location will be in the heart of The Rim.
“Hitting a home run is an unmatched experience, whether you’re an athlete or not,” said Tyler Bambrick, Home Run Dugout co-founder and CEO. “We’re absolutely thrilled to continue our mission of creating that experience for as many people as possible.”
As part of its operational expansion efforts, Home Run Dugout also licenses its patented Batting Bays and related technologies. Home Run Dugout’s social gaming experience is available to third-party venue operators, including hotels, casinos, resorts, stadiums, sports complexes, and entertainment centers. Additional information on licensing opportunities can be found on the Home Run Dugout website.