If you’re a baseball fan, you may have long been envious of sleek entertainment complexes for other sports that include full-service restaurants and bars, state-of-the-art technology, and a convivial atmosphere for groups and friends. (TopGolf and Bowlero, we’re looking at you.) But starting this fall, you can swing for the rafters at a sprawling concept centered around America’s Pastime.
The Ballpark Loudoun, a 24,000-square-foot baseball training and entertainment center, is coming to Ashburn later this year; it’ll be located in the Lexington 7 building on the north side of Route 7 off Riverside Parkway. The training part of the sprawling facility will include eight batting lanes and access to instructors with Major League Baseball experience. But it’s not just about prepping for the next double-header. The entertainment side will feature fun and challenging batting activities for groups, plus a Korean-fusion restaurant and bar.
“Our concept is unique: providing a combination of technologies that facilitate unparalleled baseball and softball instruction and active entertainment experiences along with a full restaurant and bar,” says Laila Victorine, a co-founder. “As the only high-end baseball and softball training and entertainment facility in our area, we are thrilled to provide a family-friendly venue that is accessible to all, community-centric, and a fun space to engage in some friendly competitive socializing.”
Cutting-edge technology includes real-time swing action with HitTrax, and ProBatter, which is capable of delivering any kind of pitch and is as close to a live bat as you can get. There are four game modes in the entertainment suites to challenge yourself and your group: Homerun Battle, Team Battle, Point Game, and Batting Practice. When you and your crew have worked up an appetite, head to Chipop, a fast-casual Asian street-food concept with Korean fried chicken, bibimbap, noodle soup, kimchi pancakes, pa jun, mandu, yakitori, donburi, and izakaya dishes.
The Ballpark Loudoun offers the option to become a member, with perks including unlimited batting-cage use, access to equipment lockers, discounts on new member referrals, access to swing data, a half-hour private lesson, discounts on camps, clinics, parties and group events, and a free guest pass every month; founding members also receive a commemorative engraved ball on the Founding Member wall and a special T-shirt.
The Ballpark Loudoun is operated by Swing Away Sports, LLC. Ashburn is the first location; five to 10 more are planned regionally within the next five years, and the ultimate goal is national expansion within five to 10 years.
The Ashburn facility has plans for an early fall 2021 opening. For more information, including membership applications, check out its website.
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