The new Ballers venue in Fishtown, that opened its doors this week, is a sprawling social sports club with a modern sports bar and restaurant, writes Michael Klein for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“We’re trying not to be just a sports center,” said David Gutstadt, who developed the concept with his wife, Amanda Potter.
The pair got investments from nearly 40 athletes and sports figures, including Andre Agassi, Tyrese Maxey, Maarten Paes, and David Blitzer.
“We’re about social sports,” said Gutstadt. “One way people come together around sport is actually watching sports, and another way is playing them. We wanted to create a place where you can do both — and eat well while you’re at it.”
Ballers opened within The Battery, the century-old former Delaware Generating Station that was once the largest power plant in the PECO system. Today, the site operates as a hotel and residential complex.
With an estimated $10 million investment, the couple and their partners created a bar and restaurant overlooking a 3,700-square-foot turf field on the first floor, with many additional amenities on the second floor, including six pickleball courts and two squash courts.
Read more about the opening of Ballers and what it will bring to people in Fishtown in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on PHILADELPHIA Today in September 2025.
