DALLAS — This article was originally published by our content partners at the Dallas Business Journal. You can read the original article here.
A new entertainment concept will call Dallas home and a former Super Bowl champion is at the helm.
Derrick Mayes, a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers during the team's Super Bowl XXXI victory following the 1996 season, has traded touchdowns for baskets to form JumpShot Inc., a retail business that will combine food and basketball.
The company revealed Sept. 30 plans to roll out its JumpShot Live locations in 2025. With the intention of providing a lively atmosphere for basketball enthusiasts, JumpShot Live could open more locations in 2026. Although the company is based in Dallas, it did not disclose where the first locations will open.
JumpShot Live locations are designed to span around 50,000 square feet but may vary in size, according to the company. Venues will accommodate roughly 50 custom-designed gaming bays, each serving up to six players. Guests will be able to choose from a variety of games at each bay. It's a bit of a Topgolf-like spin on the sport, similar to what's been seen with Home Run Dugout for baseball and TOCA Social for soccer.
Think of JumpShot Live as a mix of full-service restaurant, sports bar and event space centered around basketball culture. The company will use patent-pending technology that allows basketball hoops to move dynamically along a 40-foot-by-10-foot lane, enabling guests to shoot from almost anywhere on the court without moving from their player bay. The bays and basketball lanes will be surrounded by projectors and LED screens to create a digitally immersive environment.
JumpShot currently has seven full-time employees and will add more in the future, according to a spokesperson.
"This is one of the most innovative and technologically advanced entertainment experiences in the world," CEO Mayes said in a statement. "We believe that JumpShot Live will redefine the industry and bring basketball fans something beyond their imagination."
Brian Birckbichler will serve as president and chief operating officer of the company. Birckbichler has previously worked for Atomic Golf, Topgolf, Drive Shack and Bloomin’ Brands.
The company did not disclose the address of its corporate headquarters in Dallas.