Ballard Sports Park, a tech-forward indoor soccer and basketball venue, is exploring a potential space in Ballard.
The idea was born from software engineer Jack Forbes’ growing passion for soccer. While living in San Francisco a decade ago, he started frequenting Urban Soccer Park.
“I hadn’t played much small-sided soccer but happened to be living in San Francisco and heard about it and fell in love with the experience they were building,” Forbes told What Now Seattle.
Urban Soccer Park’s concept was built around hosting weekly drop-in tournaments for the public.
“Instead of playing for your same team, you got to mix up the team and really get to know the whole soccer community that’s going there. On top of that, they created an environment that was really enjoyable—good music, drinks, games on the screen—just a comfortable environment people would want to hang out,” Forbes said.
He continued, “It was an eye-opening experience to me. From that moment forward, I knew I wanted to open one myself someday.”
After moving to Ballard with his wife, he saw a clear gap for soccer. With the recent closure of the basketball court at LA Fitness, he also saw an opportunity to fill another need by helping build a local sports community and create a space for people to connect and meet new people.
To get the project off the ground, he’s partnering with Sam Zisette, co-founder and president of Ballard FC, a semi-professional men’s soccer team based in the Ballard neighborhood, as well as Zac Dykan, senior manager of hospitality for the Seattle Storm, the city’s professional women’s basketball team.
Ballard Sports Park plans to feature two to three soccer fields equipped with video technology, along with a basketball court that will gradually be upgraded with the same tech over time.
“I’m building the platform for the soccer park which includes cameras on each field that connect to a digital billboard on each field. We’ll livestream the games so parents can watch their kids play. There’s replays on the screens and automatic highlight reels each player gets after each game,” Forbes said.
In a full-circle moment, he will also share the technology with Urban Soccer Park.
The sports park also plans to include a warm-up area, along with a food and beverage program.
“We’re trying to introduce food and comfortable lounge areas. It creates that environment people actually want to hang out in before or after a game. We’re really trying to make a place people want to go instead of their screen,” he said.
Ballard Sports Park will be open to the public for pickup games, while also offering a membership model.
An official location has not yet been finalized, but the goal is to be based in Ballard, as the name suggests.
“Ballard is ideal because it is not only a pretty big population, but growing rapidly too. There are a lot of big apartment buildings going up there, so people could even walk or bike there. There is a possibility of Interbay, which is just south, but we’re touring new spaces in Ballard this week,” Forbes said.
Forbes hopes others feel the same inspiration he did 10 years ago and is eager to return to the game he loves.
“Honestly, I’m just excited about having a place I can play with the experience I’ve been wanting for years,” he said.
Stay tuned!
