TLDR:
Key points:
- Batbox, a Mexican baseball simulator maker, raised $7.3 million in VC funds to bring its baseball-themed restaurant concept to the U.S.
- The concept combines food and beverage with a baseball simulation pitching and hitting cage, aiming to capitalize on the sports “eatertainment” trend.
Baseball-Themed Restaurant Batbox Raises $7.3M in VC Funds to Enter U.S.
A tech savvy update on the traditional batting cage anchors a baseball themed sports restaurant concept out of Mexico, known as Batbox. Seeking to capitalize on the sports “eatertainment” trend, Batbox has raised $7.3 million in venture capital to bring its casual eats and entertainment concept to the U.S. The Series A fundraising, announced by the business, saw participation from two venture capital firms, U.S.-based Emerging Fund and Monterrey, Mexico-based MG Partners.
The group aims to bring the casual sports-entertainment idea to the U.S. at a Dallas-area location next year, with plans to open two dozen more locations across the country by the end of the decade. Batbox combines food and beverage with a baseball simulation pitching and hitting cage – patrons swing in a batting cage against a computer simulated pitcher’s hand.
The company’s expertise in the Mexican market has shown success with three Batbox locations in Mexico, where sales have been 60% greater than at comparable golf locations. The first U.S. location, planned for Addison, north of Dallas, will offer American food menu items and 10 simulators for patrons to enjoy. The rise of “eatertainment” concepts has been observed in the industry, with other sports-themed restaurants like Topgolf International finding success and VC backing.
Batbox’s VC investors have experience in similar sports technologies, such as F1 Arcade, Puttshack, and Sandbox VR. The company sees a huge market potential in the U.S. and aims to be a partner in growing the game of baseball alongside professional teams and MLB.
