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FEATURE
Basketball City becoming a slam-dunk with city hoopsters
by Rich Timlen
They may not be able to compete with Shaq or Lebron, but now the average
basketball junkie can slam down $10 bucks and get a taste of what it feels like
to race up and down the court in a professional atmosphere.
With six air-conditioned, full-sized basketball courts, complete with hardwood
floors, glass backboards and electronic scoreboards, Basketball City will give
any wannabe hoopster or playground legend the chance to show off his or her best
moves at the top-notch facilities, even if it isn’t Madison Square Garden.
Basketball City also contains a complete fitness center, men’s and women’s
locker rooms and a sports lounge. The courts are also available for private
rental. The company currently operates two locations, with a 40,000 sq.ft.
facility in New York, NY next to Chelsea Pier off 11th Avenue and 23rd Street
and one on Lomasney Way in Boston, MA, across from the Fleet Center, home of the
Boston Celtics.
The company is currently looking to expand throughout Los Angeles, CA; Atlanta,
GA; Chicago, IL and Philadelphia, PA and prefers to locate in downtown areas and
entertainment centers. Preferred spaces are 40,000 sq.ft. The company also will
consider unique spaces. Typical leases run 15 to 20 years and preferred spaces
are on land areas of two to three acres. A vanilla shell and specific
improvements are required. The sports center also offers volleyball facilities.
Opened in 1997, Basketball City is home to league play, with more than 600
teams. Eighty percent of the leagues are fielded from the city’s largest
corporations. The facility is also used by scouts to evaluate pro and college
prospects and recently hosted the training sessions for the MacDonald’s High
School All-American Classic. At Christmas, the facility hosts the Boys Club
tourney, the largest showcase for high school talent in the country. Hall of
Famer Walt Frazier, ex-Lincoln High superstar Stephon Marbury, and St. John’s
coach Mike Jarvis have run clinics there. And more than a dozen nonprofit
fundraisers are hosted to benefit various foundations in the New York area.
In the adult leagues, Basketball City offers intense competition in league play
and offers referees, stats, jerseys and first-class locker facilities. But this
doesn’t mean you have to be in top-form to use the courts. The company also
offers birthday party packages and corporate parties.
As long as you have a pair of sneakers, people can choose different party
packages that come with an experienced basketball staff to help people learn how
to play the game better. Each birthday package is for 15 children and includes
one hour on the court, one hour in the party room, a professional instructor,
customized basketball cake, basketball themed paper goods, pizza and beverages
and a balloon package. Some bonus options include extra court time, additional
coaches, trophies and Basketball City merchandise.
On weekdays, Basketball City offers open play from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., except July
and August. Weekend session play hours vary from week to week.
For more information, contact Bruce Radler, Basketball City, Pier 63 at West
23rd Street, New York, NY 10011; 212-924-4040 Ext. 112, Fax 212-924-5550; Email:
bruce@basketballcity.com; Web site:
www.basketballcity.com.
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